A run in the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) has been ruled out for British stayer Lord Van Percy this Saturday after it was revealed the four-year-old has tendon problems.

The gelding had scans yesterday which revealed a tendon strain, ruling him out of the 2014 Zipping Classic. He will head straight to the spelling paddock.

“Firstly we had to contend with a spider bite, but then we discovered he had some filling in a tendon sheath,” Managing part-owner Terry Henderson told Racing Network on Tuesday.

“We had that tendon scanned yesterday and while it’s not a classic tendon problem, he has a strain to the tendon and he will go straight for a spell now.”

Lord Van Percy had been nominated for both the Zipping Classic and Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) at Sandown Park this weekend, as part of the final instalment of the 2014 spring racing carnival.

His connections will have to be content with just one spring start in Australia after he finished fifth in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) on October 11. It was a gallant run that saw him get pushed back to third last at the beginning. He got mobile at the bend and in the straight to finish well on the line, just 2½ lengths off Big Memory.

The winner of five races from 18 starts in the UK will stay in Australia following his spell, transferring to the Ballarat stables of Darren Weir which Henderson is excited about.

“I’m glad he’s going to ‘Weiry’ as he can be trained on the straight track there at Ballarat,” he explained.

The gelding won the Summer Handicap (2816m) and finished second in the Ebor Handicap (2816m) before making the journey out to Australia.

Connections had ideas of grandeur for Lord Van Percy, aiming him towards a tilt in the Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m), however that dream was over when he was scratched from the Group 2 Lexus Stakes (2500m) three days earlier. Only time will tell if he’ll be aimed towards next year’s Melbourne Cup.

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