SYDNEY’S weather will ultimately determine which path Irish horse Gordon Lord Byron will take in The Championships. Gordon Lord Byron has been entered for the $3 million Doncaster Mile, but trainer Tom Hogan has always flagged the possibility of starting yesterday’s George Ryder winner in the $2.5 million TJ Smith.
Hogan, speaking on TVN’s Racing Review today, said a decision would not be made before this weekend.
“We will look at the weather,” Hogan said. “That will have a huge bearing on which way I go. If the weather dried out I would be tempted to run in the Doncaster. He’s rated here at 114 and his international rating is 118 and he can possibly run to 122 so it would give him six to eight pounds ahead of his handicap.
“He was the highest rated horse in the race yesterday and deserved to win it.”
While Gordon Lord Byron, was backed from $26 to $18 to win the George Ryder off a three and a half month break, Hogan said it was not unexpected as the gelding was the top rated horse in the race and if everything pans out fairly then the top rated horse should win.
Gordon Lord Byron has 56.5 kg in the Doncaster, but he would carry an extra 1.5kg with top-weighted horse **H*It’s A Dundeel** to miss the Doncaster in preference to the BMW.
With**H* It’s A Dundeel** all the weights would be raised 1.5kg as there must be a minimum top weight of 58kg in Group 1 handicaps.
It would mean the spread of weights in the Doncaster would be 58 to 51.5kg.
Sportsbet.com.au rates Gordon Lord Byron as an $11 chance in the Doncaster and a $15 chance in the TJ