Quietly spoken Eddie Power, assistant to trainer Tom Hogan, needed few words after Gordon Lord Byron reeled off a sizzling last 400 metres in 22.9 seconds in a gallop at Sha Tin yesterday - his grin said it all.
"That's as good a piece of work he's done since he left Ireland in February," Power said after the 1,200m gallop, under trackwork rider Kate O'Brien.
The son of Byron was lured to Sydney for their revamped carnival, The Championships, and cashed in with victory in the A$1 million (HK$7.1 million) George Ryder Stakes (1,500m) last month. He then finished a game sixth in the TJ Smith Stakes (1,200m) on a rain-soaked track.
Ahead of Sunday's Champions Mile in Hong Kong, Power said: "We've ruled a line through the TJ. He just didn't get through the mud as well as some of the others. He's run well at both of his starts in Hong Kong, so we're hoping he produces that form."
Hogan, who arrives on Thursday, echoed those sentiments from his Tipperary base. "It looks a very strong race, almost as strong as the Hong Kong Mile. But I think my horse is going a little bit better than December, too," he said.
Craig Williams, who rode the horse in Sydney, is unable to take the ride, but Hogan has found a more than able replacement in Zac Purton.
"Craig has to ride in Japan, so I'm very happy to have Zac aboard," Hogan said.
The jockeys' championship leader will get a feel for Gordon Lord Byron in a piece of easy work.
"That gallop will be it now for him. He's as fit as we can have him," Power said. "Zac will sit on him one morning, but to be fair Kate O'Brien rides most of his work - she's done well so far."
Meanwhile, five Hong Kong horses are among entries for the Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo on June 8. Able Friend, Blazing Speed, Glorious Days and Real Specialist all run in the Champions Mile first, and John Size's Endowing completes the entries.
