Gordon Lord Byron (Ire) (Byron {GB}) is unlikely to take up his engagement at Dundalk Friday, with a flight to Hong Kong booked for midweek. Tom Hogan is looking forward to saddling his multiple Group 1 winner in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin Mar. 15, a seven-furlong event granted international status for the first time this year.
The trainer has taken his stable star to Ireland's only all-weather circuit on a couple of occasions to gallop as part of his preparations and the seven-year-old was given a surprise entry in this week's Value Centre Race, a conditions race over a mile with fast-track qualifier status for All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield on Good Friday. Hogan has revealed that is merely a back-up plan should his trip to Hong Kong fall through.
“He's in Newmarket as we speak, he worked this morning on the Al Bahathri and Wayne Lordan rode him,” said Hogan. “The plan as it stands is for him to catch a ferry to Amsterdam tonight and then fly to Hong Kong Wednesday. These things are never 100% certain, but if everything goes according to plan that is what will be happening.”
Added Hogan, “If for some reason there is a hitch with the traveling and he doesn't travel to Hong Kong, he'll turn up in Dundalk Friday. He's been to Dundalk a couple of times to work, just to keep him happy, and he seems in good form.”
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