Dual Group 1 winning sprinter Gordon Lord Byron has been confirmed as an international runner in the inaugural The Championships at Royal Randwick.
Irish trainer Tom Hogan will aim the five-year-old winner of the Group 1 Prix de la Forêt and Group 1 Betfred Sprint Cup towards the $2.5million Darley TJ Smith Stakes on day one of The Championships.
Based in Tipperary, Gordon Lord Byron will join Japanese based Hana’s Goal as the second international competitor at The Championships.
“It’s wonderful to see another top-class international racehorse confirmed for The Championships,” said The Championships Chief Executive Ian Mackay.
“Gordon Lord Byron is a proven winner at the elite level who has run in Hong Kong, Dubai and France.
“He’s a serious contender and travels very well.”
Hogan will begin Gordon Lord Byron’s campaign in Sydney targeting the Group 1 WFA George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill Gardens as his first run.
From there Gordon Lord Byron will most likely tackle the sprinting championship of Australia; the Darley TJ Smith Stakes over 1200m but Hogan may also nominate his horse for the Group 1 $3million The Star Doncaster Mile.
“It’s great to see Tom Hogan follow through with his decision to send Gordon Lord Byron for The Championships after expressing interest in Hong Kong where the horse performed well,” said Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager of Racing Matt Rudolph.
“It also vindicates the decision to free up Canterbury during the BMW Sydney Carnival to enable internationals to train in an isolation centre.”
– Australian Turf Club
