Sunspeed stallion Lucky Unicorn landed his second stakes winner this season when Caduceus produced a last-to-first finish in the LR Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Caduceus (2g Lucky Unicorn – French Lion by Lion Heart) is unbeaten after two starts following a debut victory at Waverley last month.  “He surprised us first-up – he doesn’t do enough in his work to get a real line on his chances,” trainer Kris Shailer admitted.  “But we did feel more confident when the horse he beat at Waverley (Cousin Colin) came out and won at Trentham earlier today.”

Jockey Kelly Myers settled Caduceus at the tail of the field and then set out after Asprey who loomed as the likely winner at the furlong.  The favourite tried hard but was unable to hold out the finishing burst of the winner.

Shailer prepares the big gelding with his brother Paul at Matamata.  “I thought he would be handier than that but Kelly did the right thing and let him relax.  He’s always looked like he wanted ground.”

Caduceus is a homebred for brothers John and Dean Brescacin who raced his dam French Lion with Mark Kavanagh.  She had won at her only start at Bendigo in August 2009.

The mare has a yearling filly by Lucky Unicorn and a filly foal by Shocking.

Lucky Unicorn (Redoute’s Choice) covered his first West Australian book at Westbury Park in Pinjarra last year after transferring from Cambridge Stud in NZ.

He sired G3 Sunline Vase winner Rock Diva at Ellerslie in March and she followed up with a Group 1 placing in the NZ Oaks at Trentham.

CADUCEUS
Lucky Unicorn youngster wins the LR Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie