Van Percy Purchased By OTI Racing

OTI Racing has purchased English-based galloper Van Percy and the talented gelding is set to head to Australia for the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.

OTI Racing are hoping that Van Percy can make as successful a transition to Australian racing as triple Group 1 winner Manighar.

OTI Racing are hoping that Van Percy can make as successful a transition to Australian racing as triple Group 1 winner Manighar. Photo by: Steve Hart

Van Percy made his racing debut in 2012 and he has been a consistent performed in handicap races throughout his racing career; recording four wins and five placings from his 15 race starts to date.

The Sir Percy gelding started his 2014 racing season campaign with a narrow win over Scottish Star and Swing Alone in the Mobile Handicap (2414m) at Lingfield on March 22 and after failing to perform at his best in the British Racing Stakes Handicap (2414m) at Newmarket on May 4 returned to winning from with an impressive three and a half lengths victory in the Triconnex Handicap (2816m) at the same venue on May 17.

Van Percy is prepared by Andrew Balding in The United Kingdom and OTI Racing confirmed in a statement that the Group 1 winning trainer is set to bring the progressive gelding to Australia this spring.

“OTI Racing is pleased to announce the acquisition of Van Percy, an exciting prospect from England, and he has been earmarked to head to Australia this spring,” OTI Racing said in a statement.

“Trainer Andrew Balding understands the challenge of winning in Australia during the spring carnival, the Kingsclere-based trainer took home last year’s Mackinnon Stakes with Side Glance, and he looks forward to a return trip with Van Percy this year.

Francesca Cumani, who inspected this horse for us, said that he was a lovely moving type, with great balance.”

OTI Racing have won plenty of Group 1 races in Australia, with Manighar, Brambles and Kibbutz all winning at the highest level of racing, but the operation that is headed by Terry Henderson and Simon O’Donnell is still chasing their first win in one of the three ‘majors’ during the Spring.

Imported English stayer Bauer was narrowly denied a victory in the 2008 edition of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) by Bart Cummings-trained Viewed and OTI believes there are plenty of similarities between Van Percy and the Melbourne Cup runner-up.

“The horse has been regarded by many to be like fellow English horse, turned Australian star, Bauer,” OTI Racing said.

“Although Van Percy is a little bigger than Bauer, and not a grey, there are a lot of other parallels in the way the horse moves.”

Van Percy is expected to be included in the nominations for the 2014 Melbourne Cup that will be released on Tuesday September 2.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.