Fourth Time Lucky for ‘Lord’?

The blue-collar Gordon Lord Byron (Ire) (Byron {GB}) makes a fourth trip to Hong Kong and third in a row for the International Races, but for the first time, the 6-year-old will take his chances in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint after posting outstanding fourth-place efforts behind Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in 2012 and to Glorious Days (Aus) (Hussonet) last December. 

“Last year the Hong Kong Sprint was won by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) by five lengths; that’s like winning a two-mile race by a distance–and I don’t see a Lord Kanaloa in the field this year,” Hogan said, explaining the decision to go in the Sprint. “Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) was second last year, and we’ve beaten him before over six furlongs.” 

The two aforementioned locals are set to reappear next Sunday in the Mile, but given his success over shorter distances this season, trainer Tom Hogan has taken the path of least resistance this time around and will try the gelding against the likes of Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {GB}), Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) representing Hong Kong, top Australian sprinter Buffering (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) and Japanese Group 1 winner Snow Dragon (Jpn) (Admire Cozzene {Jpn}). 

“The horse loves it in Hong Kong. We all love going back there. The hospitality is great. Why wouldn’t we give it a go?” Hogan asks. 

It’s been a busy 12 months for Gordon Lord Byron, who kicked off his season in the Australian autumn, with an 18-1 upset of the G1 George Ryder S. in Sydney. A touch out of form into the summer, the veteran was a close second in the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock Sept. 6 and filled the same spots two starts later in the G1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp Oct. 5. He exits a heavy-ground success in the G2 QIPCO Champions Sprint S. Oct. 18. 

“[Jockey] Wayne [Lordan] gave him a great ride that day, and the horse was very brave” enthused an admittedly biased Hogan, “for my money the ride of the season. He has a great record as a sprint jockey.” 

And so, the short-track version of Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) is back for another crack at international glory. 
“All we can hope for is a reasonable draw, and some cover and some luck in running,” Hogan submitted. “We go there with confidence, and it’s certainly worth a shot. Anyway we’ve never been afraid to get beat.”