Saturday 22 November 2014 16:18, UK
Gordon Lord Byron enjoyed a racecourse gallop at Dundalk on Friday evening as he continues his preparation for the Longines Hong Kong Sprint on December 14.
The six-year-old will be running at the meeting for third time after finishing fourth in the last two renewals of the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin, with connections deciding to tackle the six-furlong Sprint this time.
Trainer Tom Hogan feels the gelding deserves a crack at the shorter event after he won an Australian Group One over seven and a half furlongs in March before finishing a close-up sixth behind top sprinter Lankee Rupee in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick back in April.
Gordon Lord Byron was last seen when lifting the British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot last month.
Hogan said: "It all went perfectly at Dundalk. He loves it there, he strode out well and had a little blow afterwards. We might go back there again next Friday just to get him spot on for Hong Kong.
"We've decided we will take our chances on the draw and go for the Sprint. His runs in Australia show he is good enough to go for the race.
"The milers in Hong Kong are exceptionally good. We've had a couple of goes at the race before and we've not had much luck in running and still finished two lengths off the winner.
"We think he's capable of running a good race in the Sprint and deserves his chance.
"He flies out of Heathrow on December 5 and we're looking forward to it."
