Cambridge Stud’s young Redoute’s Choice stallion Lucky Unicorn gained his first winner when Bacio Francese was successful at Greymouth on Saturday.  The two-year-old filly beat older horses by a half-length in a special conditions maiden event over 1100m.

Bacio Francese (2f Lucky Unicorn – Smooch by Rory’s Jester) was the fourth race day runner for Lucky Unicorn.  Another of his initial crop – Oscar Wilde – was placed at Pukekura in December.

Bred by Cambridge Stud, Bacio Francese was a $4,000 bargain buy for John and Karen Parsons at last year’s May Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka.

Lucky Unicorn was unbeaten in Hong Kong as a juvenile before returning to Australia to capture the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Sandown for Tony Vasil.  He is a three-quarter brother to Champion Hong Kong sprinter Inspiration (Flying Spur) and hails from a family full of Group 1 winning sprinters including Masked Party, Festal, and Dracula.

Bacio Francese is the last foal for Smooch who had already produced winners by Dream Well, Stark South and One Cool Cat before she died in 2009.  

Her half-sister A Little Kiss (Sackford) was a G1 winner of a Queensland Oaks and AJC Flight Stakes before transferring off-shore to produce the Japanese G3 winning filly Gaily Funky (Theatrical).