Gordon Lord Byron registered his first group victory when he swept to the lead deep in the straight for William Buick and held on well in the Qatar Prix de la Foret (Fr-I) over heavy turf at Longchamp Oct. 7.
Buick, criticized for moving early on runner-up Izzi Top in the Prix de l'Opera (Fr-I) a few races earlier, timed his charge just right this time with second choice Gordon Lord Byron.
Tom Hogan trains the winning Irish-bred 4-year-old gelding by Byron for owners Morgan J. Cahalan and Adolph Schneider. Gordon Lord Byron earned an automatic starting berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) Nov. 3 with fees paid and a travel stipend provided as part of the Cup's challenge series. However, he is not currently nominated.
Gordon Lord Byron, a 3-1 pick in the North American pool, prevailed by 1 1/2 lengths over Penitent, with Kendam a neck farther back while third in the field of 12. Final time for the seven furlongs was 1:25.17.
Favored Mashoora finished fifth.
The winner was coming off a runner-up finish in his group I debut in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Sept. 8.
Bred in Ireland by Roland H. Alder, Gordon Lord Byron is out of the Irish Intikhab mare Boa Estrela.
Gordon Lord Byron stalked the pace of Lethal Force into the straight before Penitent, tracking the pacemaker in second, took over with a quarter mile to run. Gordon Lord Byron, never far behind, rallied on the outside of Penitent to get the advantage, gradually pulling away and holding sway to the wire.
The victory was the sixth in 22 lifetime starts for Gordon Lord Byron. The bay has started 12 times in 2012 with four wins and five placings.
