By MIKE DILLON
Our Unicorn's 40-1 success in the $350,000 Auckland Cup yesterday was bad for tipsters - but worse for some than others.
Wellingtonian Des Coppins promised former jockey and Auckland's Euro bar owner Leo Molloy he would do his radio racing show naked on Saturday if Our Unicorn won.
And Molloy intends keeping Coppins to his word.
The only thing being shed at Ellerslie yesterday were tears by Our Unicorn's Chinese owner David Yam, who had been winless with the gelding since March 1999.
Yam moved to New Zealand from Hong Kong eight years ago and runs a printing business in Panmure. He races Our Unicorn in partnership with his brother Alan, who yesterday was at Sha Tin races in Hong Kong.
"He won't know he's won the cup until later tonight when I can call him, because you can't use cellphones on the racecourse in Hong Kong," Yam said.
Two years ago Our Unicorn was rated the equal to any stayer in Australia, but then the slump occurred.
He was second favourite for the $2 million 1999 Caulfield Cup, but was eliminated in favour of lesser-qualified English stayer Taufan's Melody, who won the race at long odds.
He then spent nearly a year off after straining a ligament under a fetlock and failed badly in Melbourne last spring.
His win yesterday was a triumph for trainers Alan Jones and Brett McDonald, who turned the horse around in only eight weeks since he finished a dismal 18th in Brew's Melbourne Cup.
Jones is proof of how far racing can take you if you make your own luck.
Jones and Sunline's part-owner and trainer Trevor McKee, also co-trainer of yesterday's runner-up Ebony Honor, bunked together when they worked as teenagers for Te Rapa trainer Tom Morrow. Both are now multi-millionaires.
Westbury Stud principal Russell Warwick, sponsoring the race for the first time, reckons the stud's turn will arrive soon - its runner yesterday, Edberg, finished 10th.
Westbury sold last year's cup winner Able Master through the Karaka sale ring for $40,000 and sold Our Unicorn for $10,000.
Our Unicorn won yesterday with a nice ride from Michael Coleman, who worked the horse into the race from the 800m and had leader Ebony Honor in his sights from the 300m.
It was 31-year-old Coleman's ninth group one winner in New Zealand.
Favourite Smiling Like came eighth, rider Michael Walker saying she felt a little "scratchy" on pulling up.
Lance O'Sullivan said he had no excuses for ninth-placed Classic Babe.
Racing: Auckland Cup victory strips tipster bare
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