Sunday, Longchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE LA FORET-G1, €300,000, Longchamp, 10-7, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:25.17, hy.
1--s@GORDON LORD BYRON (IRE), 128, g, 4, by Byron (GB)
        1st Dam: Boa Estrela (Ire), by Intikhab
        2nd Dam: Charita (Ire), by Lycius
        3rd Dam: Seme de Lys, by Slew o' Gold
(€2,000 wnlg '08 GOFNOV; €5,000 yrl '09 GOFOCT). O-Morgan J Cahalan; B-Roland H Alder; T-Tom Hogan; J-William Buick; €171,420. Lifetime Record: SW & G1SP-Eng, GSP-Ire, 22 starts, 6 wins, 11 places, €338,649. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Penitent (GB), 128, g, 6, Kyllachy (GB)--Pious (GB), by Bishop of Cashel (GB). (40,000gns RNA wnlg '06 TATDEC; 40,000gns HIT '11 TATHIT). O-Middleham Park Racing XVII; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd; T-David O'Meara; €68,580.
3--Kendam (Fr), 122, f, 3, Kendargent (Fr)--Damdam Freeze (Fr), by Indian Rocket (GB). O/B-Guy Pariente; T-Henri-Alex Pantall; €34,290.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 3. Odds: 3.40, 10.00, 24.00.
Also Ran: Pintura (GB), Mashoora (Ire), Blue Soave (Fr), Nice Association (Fr), Zantenda (GB), Sommerabend (GB), Lethal Force (Ire), Starspangledbanner (Aus). Scratched: American Devil (Fr).
Click for the Racing Post chart, the AmWest PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for Equidia video.
   Gordon Lord Byron, who was 14th in the Wokingham H. cavalry charge at Royal Ascot June 23, has been a revelation in stakes company since running third in a Curragh handicap one week later and fourth in the July 15 Listed Belgrave S. at Fairyhouse. Runner-up in the Aug. 12 G3 Phoenix Sprint S. back at The Curragh, he won with authority over this trip in the Aug. 25 Listed City of York S., and continued his rapid progress with a second to Society Rock (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) in the Sept. 8 G1 Haydock Sprint Cup last time. The bay was supplemented for this on Thursday at a cost of €18,000, and reaped an immediate dividend with a powerful display in the deep mud. Positioned fifth behind furious early fractions, the crowd's second choice made headway under pressure into the stretch run and, once quickening into second approaching the final furlong, he was driven out late to prevail from British raider Penitent, who had raced prominently throughout. "Fortune favors the brave and, on the advice of [jockey] William Buick, we did not hesitate to supplement the horse for the race," explained trainer Tom Hogan. "After the Haydock Sprint Cup, he said that seven furlongs was his best trip and that the horse would appreciate the course at Longchamp. All the owners chipped in for the supplementation and he won in very good style. Although he had been running on soft ground for most of the year in Ireland, we were concerned, as we did not expect to find it so testing here. He came through it nicely and, as we have an invitation for Hong Kong, we'll give him a little break, freshen him up, and probably go there."