Rock Diva will be at the pointy end when a flight leaves Auckland bound for Brisbane on Thursday.

The Lucky Unicorn filly is one of 28 Kiwi horses hoping to cash in at the winter carnival.  In a final hit-out before crossing the Tasman, she pleased trainer Tony Pike in a gallop between races at Te Rapa last weekend.

Rock Diva will get straight down to business in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) on Saturday.  “She is a real little professional,” Pike said.  “She pulled up nice and clean after Te Rapa.”

Pike indicated she will then start in the G3 Doomben Roses (2000m) on May 17 in a final lead-up to the G1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31.

Rock Diva (3f Lucky Unicorn – Bohemian Blues by Blues Traveller) won a Pukekohe maiden in February before landing the G3 Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie.  She was last seen finishing third in the G1 NZ (2400m) at Trentham on March 15.

“She was a lovely, big filly from the outset but always looked like she would take time,” Pike recalled.  “She was a touch weak at the start and was in and out of work a fair bit.  But she’s really put it together this preparation and is a natural stayer.”

Lucky Unicorn initially stood at Cambridge Stud before relocating to Westbury Park Stud in Pinjarra last year.  The son of Redoute’s Choice sired his latest stakes winner earlier this month when unbeaten filly Caduceus captured the LR Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie.

ROCK DIVA
Jockey Leith Innes salutes the crowd after winning the G3 Sunline Vase at Ellerslie