Champion Ballarat trainer Darren Weir will achieve a new first this weekend.
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Weir will have his maiden New Zealand starter when Lord Van Percy lines up in the group 1 Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Jeremy Rogers, Weir’s racing manager, said the horse’s owners were keen to make the trek with the former English galloper, who he said gets in well at the weights for the 3200m event.
Rogers said Weir won’t travel with the seven-year-old, opting to head to Melbourne for the Super Saturday program at Flemington.
The gelding, part-owned by OTI Racing, will fly to New Zealand on Thursday and will race following a last-start fourth in the listed Torney Night Cup at Moonee Valley on February 17.
Lord Van Percy has had eight starts for Weir since being transferred to him from former trainer Andrew Balding, but is yet to record victory for his new stable.
