World traveler
Gordon Lord Byron squeezed through a narrow gap nearing the finish line for a stunning win in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (Eng-II) Oct. 18 at Ascot.
The 6-year-old
Byron gelding threaded his way through in the final furlong with Wayne Lordan aboard, and gamely drove between runner-up
Tropics and third-place finisher
Jack Dexter. He drove clear for a thrilling 1 1/4-length triumph as the 5-1 co-favorite with ninth-place finisher
Viztoria.
"It was a bit tight, but he accelerated through," Lordan said. "When he got to the front he actually slowed down a bit."
Gordon Lord Byron was timed in 1:17.30 for six furlongs on heavy turf. The victory was his first in seven starts this year and followed his runner-up finish behind
Olympic Glory in the Qatar Prix de la Foret (Fr-I) Oct. 5 at Longchamp. The veteran campaigner has an overall record of 11-11-7 from 43 career starts that also include George Ryder Stakes (Aus-I) earlier this year in Australia. He is trained by Tom Hogan for owners Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla and Morgan J. Cahalan.
Hogan indicated that Hong Kong was next on Gordon Lord Byron's itinerary.
The Irish-bred gelding was produced from the Intikhab mare Boa Estrella.
Saturday's British Champions Day card also included a race for marathoners—the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (Eng-II), easily won by 4-year-old Forgotten Rules
By Nayef—Utterly Heaven, by Danehill, Forgotten Rules was making only his third career start and stayed unbeaten with a 1 3/4-length triumph.
Held up near the back of the nine-horse field, Forgotten Rules came wide and overtook
Pallasator, who led from a quarter mile out. Forgotten Ruler stayed on well and comfortably held off
Biographer, who rallied late for second. Pallasator was third, a neck back.
A Moyglare Stud homebred, Forgotten Rules covered two miles on heavy turf in 3:36.77 with Pat Smullen aboard.
"He was very immature as a 2-year-old, but showed his ability," said trainer Dermot Weld, who won the race two years ago with
Rite of Passage.
"(He had) sore shins as 3-year-old; we said he'd wait. But he's shown his ability here. Is he a Cup horse for next year? Definitely."
Forgotten Rules won his career debut in a two-mile race April 29 at Punchestown, and took a 1 3/4-mile conditions race Aug. 1 at Galway.
The soggy course conditions took its toll on Queen Elizabeth II's 2013 Gold Cup (Eng-I) winner
Estimate, who finished last, and this year's Gold Cup winner
Leading Light. The 2-1 favorite for Coolmore and partners finished seventh.
"She is now off to stud," said John Warren, the queen's racing manager. "You cannot take the good things away. I think Estimate gave the Queen the biggest thrill she probably ever had."