Byron On The Comeback Trail

Tipperary trainer Tom Hogan is looking forward to another campaign with his evergreen stable star Gordon Lord Byron (Ire) (Byron {GB}). The 8-year-old received an early New Year present when he was gifted The Curragh's G3 Minstrel S. upon the recent disqualification of Home Of The Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). That signaled a 13^th win for the triple Group 1 winner and Hogan reported, “He is in good form and started back cantering last Monday. He's full of beans and is good and fresh.” This time two years ago Gordon Lord Byron was preparing in advance of an historic win in the G1 George Ryder S. at Rosehill in Australia but Hogan has a shorter journey in mind to kick start the gelding's campaign in advance of the usual international objectives.”There's a race for him at Dundalk in mid-March and we'll see after that, but he has plenty of options,” added the trainer.

Gordon Lord Byron represents a true rags to riches tale. Having been bought by his owner Morgan Cahalan's daughter Jessica for only €2,000 as foal, he failed to find a buyer as a yearling. Faced with no option but to put him into training, they entrusted neighbor Tom Hogan with the task. Though he showed ability, a fractured pelvis on his only 2-year-old start meant connections had to be patient and it wasn't until his 3-year-old season and his seventh outing that he found the winning groove in a Dundalk maiden. The penny really dropped the following year; he began his 4-year-old season off a handicap mark of 88 and wound up rated 118 nine months later following a breakthrough Group 1 success in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp. The influential Indian businessman Dr Cyrus Poonawalla has joined in as part owner since those early days and it has been an epic journey for connections. Hogan and Cahalan would forgive us for saying they weren't adventurous world travelers five years ago, but since 'Gordon' came along they have accompanied him to France, Hong Kong, Dubai, Australia and on multiple occasions to the UK taking in Royal Ascot, Champions Day, York's Ebor Festival, in addition to victories at Ireland's flagship racecourses The Curragh and Leopardstown. Having banked well over €2m in purse money at this stage who's to say he won't add further to that this year.