GORDON LORD BYRON “in tip-top order” ahead of Hong Kong

03/12/2014 14:46

 

GORDON LORD BYRON
This time around, however, there is a difference, and the difference is in the word “Sprint”.

Gordon Lord Byron’s three previous runs have yielded two fourth place finishes in the Hong Kong Mile in 2012 and 2013, and a seventh of 14 finish behind the very talented Variety Club in this year’s Champions Mile in May.

Now Gordon Lord Byron comes to Sha Tin off an eye-catching win in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint at Ascot, where jockey Wayne Lordan threaded “GLB” through the narrowest of gaps for what had seemed, just moments before, an unlikely victory.

“Wayne 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.”

Since then Gordon Lord Byron has had a relatively quiet time of it, but Hogan revealed that he has been away to the racetrack at Dundalk for a couple of bits of work these past two Fridays.

“He’s been in great form since his last run at Ascot, and we’ve taken him to Dundalk, where he loves the surface. His work there last Friday evening was first class – absolutely tip-top.”

Of the decision to contest the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint rather than the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile Hogan sees it thus: “Gordon Lord Byron is not short of speed. He’s been to Haydock, a fast six-furlong track, for the Sprint these past three years, and run well (second in 2012, first in 2013 and second again in 2014).”

Hogan continued: “In the Prix de La Foret on Arc day, when he was second to Olympic Glory, they went the first five furlongs in sub 56 seconds, so he’s not short of pace. Last year the Hong Kong Sprint was won by Lord Kanaloa 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. Sole Power was second last year, and we’ve beaten him before over six furlongs.”

“All we can hope for is a reasonable draw, and some cover and some luck in running. We go there with confidence, and it’s certainly worth a shot. Anyway we’ve never been afraid to get beat,” adds Hogan, the trainer whose spirit of adventure sent Gordon Lord Byron to Australia earlier this year for G1 success in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill in March.

“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 hard to disagree with his logic.

 

Snow Sky shooting for a Juddmonte first in LONGINES Hong Kong Vase

03/12/2014 16:19

Snow Sky will join fellow Juddmonte contender Flintshire in an attempt to give owner Prince Khalid Abdullah a first victory at the HK$83 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. The three-year-old will line up alongside the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe second in the HK$16.5 million LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) on Sunday 14 December.

Remarkably, for a man whose vast racing operation has enjoyed many elite level successes across the globe, Hong Kong remains unconquered. Polish Summer (2003), Spanish Moon (2009) and Redwood (2010) have all hit the cross-bar with runner-up finishes in the Vase and Cityscape was second in the 2011 Mile. They are the closest Abdullah has come to LONGINES HKIR victory.

Not so Sir Michael Stoute, the trainer responsible for plotting Snow Sky’s assault. The master of Freemason Lodge in Newmarket is chasing a third victory at the LONGINES HKIR, albeit a first in 14 years.

Stoute’s initial win at Sha Tin’s international extravaganza came at a relatively early juncture in the event’s history when Soviet Line annexed the Hong Kong Invitation Bowl (1400m), the fore-runner to the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, back in 1994. Six years later he struck in the Hong Kong Vase with Daliapour and now Snow Sky will tread the Vase trail, too.

Snow Sky, the mount of Ryan Moore, will no doubt be seen as the second pick of the two Juddmonte homebreds, but he heads to Hong Kong off the back of a fine season that has so far yielded a G3 win in the Gordon Stakes (2400m) at Glorious Goodwood and a career best third last start in Doncaster’s G1 St Leger over an extended 14 furlongs. Since that classy effort behind the talented Kingston Hill on 13 September the Nayef colt has progressed well, with Hong Kong very much the target.

Lord Grimthorpe, Abdullah’s racing manager, reported: “Snow Sky’s preparation has gone well and he is heading to Hong Kong in good form. Sir Michael kept him ticking over with Hong Kong in mind after the St Leger and has been very pleased with him. His work has been good and that is why Sir Michael has been keen to go to Hong Kong.”

Snow Sky would become only the third three-year-old to win the Vase should he prevail a week Sunday. The only others before him to have succeeded are the fillies Vallee Enchantee in 2003 and Daryakana in 2009, but Lord Grimthorpe is positive about the chances of the bay, whose uncle, Polish Summer, was caught close home by Vallee Enchantee.

“Snow Sky ran a really decent race in the St Leger but the main point is how nicely he has come on since then,” he said. “He will like the fast ground – he has a good action for that – and I think a strongly run mile and a half will suit him as well as anything.”

As for the long flight to Hong Kong, the owner’s racing manager is not too worried – Snow Sky will arrive on Saturday night (6 December): “I would not have too many concerns about him travelling for the first time as his temperament is pretty cool. You never really know, but the quality of horse travel has improved so much that I think the most important thing is how they come out of it physically rather than mentally.”

The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races also feature the HK$25 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), the HK$23 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and the HK$18.5 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).

fonte : HKJC