The Gordon Lord Byron support crew is happy to bask in the glory of his George Ryder Stakes win for a little longer before deciding on the Irish horse’s next start.
The six-year-old is nominated for both the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and the Doncaster Mile, both of which are on April 12.
Trainer Tom Hogan says the weather will play a big part in which race Gordon Lord Byron contests.
“We will wait until the week before the race,” Hogan said.
“If it is wet then the shorter race looks best. But the Doncaster is also tempting because he gets in well on the weights with his international rating.
“We won’t hurry a decision.”
Although he was the highest rated horse in Saturday’s weight-for-age George Ryder (1500m), punters steered clear, sending him out at $19.
Hogan admitted he had a small wager on him at $20 and the win was a bonus.
“The race was to get him ready for his next race,” Hogan said.
“He hadn’t raced for four months.”
The win has given Sydney’s racing administrators a boost as they try to attract more international horses to future autumn carnivals with just Gordon Lord Byron and Japanese mare Hana’s Goal making the trip this year.
But Hogan said the quarantine requirements needed to be addressed.
“I hope they can sort it out,” he said.
“It’s a long time in quarantine to get to Sydney but we have been looked after well.”
Both the international horses had to spend time at the Werribee centre near Melbourne but it is hoped a suitable facility close to Sydney can be in place by next year with Hawkesbury the front runner.
The impact of Gordon Lord Byron’s win is being compared to that of Vintage Crop whose win in the 1993 Melbourne Cup changed the face of Australia’s most famous race.
Hogan said he had consulted Vintage Crop’s trainer Dermot Weld before making the long trip.
“I talked to Dermot, to Aidan O’Brien and to Jim Bolger about travelling horses,” he said.
“They gave me valuable advice.”
