Van Percy has taken another step towards a Melbourne spring campaign with victory at the Goodwood carnival.
Australian company OTI has bought a major share in the Andrew Balding-trained Van Percy with the Melbourne Cup in mind.
Racing over 2800 metres in Tuesday’s Summer Handicap, Van Percy got the better of Havana Cooler by a neck.
Balding, who brought Side Glance to Melbourne last year to win the Mackinnon Stakes, said Van Percy would run in the Ebor Handicap in an attempt to get his rating up.
“With a penalty he’s probably now going to get in the Ebor now so that will more than likely be the target,” Balding said.
“It would be nice to think we could get him qualified for the Melbourne Cup now he’s settling better and is committed in a finish.
“Whatever happens, as long as he’s healthy, he’ll go down to Australia in the first quarantine group.
“He’s going to have to go up another 10lb (4.5kg) or so to even get into the Melbourne Cup.”
Kelinni, fourth in the 2012 Melbourne Cup when with the Chris Waller stable before returning to Europe to race under Marco Botti, finished eighth in the Goodwood handicap under Craig Williams.
