FORTUNA'S two year old Colt, UNICORN EXPRESS wins his debut trial nicely
UNICORN EXPRESS trialed in fine style today at Te Awamutu. Over the 600 metre distance and ridden by NZ's top jockey, Mathew Cameron, he jumped a little bit slowly, but with a nudge from Mathew, went to the front soon after the start, showing nice early speed. He cornered the tight Waipa track well, ran nice and straight down the stretch and gave some nice extra effort when urged by Matt when challenged in the straight. The margin was only a nose but did not knock him about and there was 2 lengths back to the 3rd horse.
This was a very nice debut effort, run in quick time and confirms our opinion that UNICORN EXPRESS is a horse with no little talent. Today was very much a learning curve for him and so from here, we will see how he pulls through the day's outing, we want to see him eat up well over the next couple of days and show no adverse physical signs from his trial, such as shin soreness. All going well, he will trial again, probably in about three weeks time, this time over more distance, say 800 or even 1000 metres and providing he comes through that trial stylishly also, we may then send him to the races.
