Victorian champion trainer Darren Weir is set to have his first runner in New Zealand on Saturday when OTI Racing's Lord Van Percy (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) lines up for the G1 Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.
A five-time winner when trained in Britain by Andrew Balding as Van Percy, the 7-year-old has yet to win since being exported to Australia in 2014. He was fourth in his most recent start in the Listed Torney Cup over 2,500 metres at Moonee Valley and Weir's team believe the step up in trip to two miles (3,200 metres) will not be a problem for the gelding.
“There are not many two-mile races around and Lord Van Percy's owners have been keen for the horse to come to Ellerslie,” Weir's racing manager Jeremy Rogers told racing.com. “We are very happy with his condition. He was okay last start and we are pretty confident he will manage the distance. He's a strong stayer.”
Bred by Victoria and Anthony Pakenham, who won the 2006 Derby with his sire Sir Percy, Lord Van Percy posted two of his wins over 2,800m and was also runner-up to Mutual Regard (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}) in the competitive Ebor H. at York in 2014. As well as the Auckland Cup, he holds entries for the G2 Adelaide Cup on March 13 and the G1 Sydney Cup during The Championships the following month.
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