Byron camp in bullish mood Jockey Wayne Lordan is confident Gordon Lord Byron remains at the top of his game ahead of Sunday's Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin. Tom Hogan's globetrotting stable star makes his first appearance in the Sprint, having finished fourth in the last two renewals of the Hong Kong Mile. The six-year-old has enjoyed another fantastic campaign, winning at the top level in Australia back in March before running with his usual consistency back in Europe, most recently clinching a thrilling victory in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot in October. It may have been a long year for Gordon Lord Byron, but Lordan is expecting another bold show in the Far East. He said: "That last run at Ascot was so good as he was hating the deep ground and never really travelling, but he still managed to pick up for me, finish and win. "This horse is as good as ever, make no mistake." Gordon Lord Byron is joined in the Sprint by Eddie Lynam-trained compatriot Sole Power, winner of the King's Stand at Royal Ascot and the Nunthorpe at York this summer. Corine Barande-Barbe's remarkable eight-year-old Cirrus Des Aigles makes his fifth appearance in Hong Kong in Sunday's Cup. The six-time Group One winner was a brave third to Akeed Mofeed in last year's renewal and his French trainer is confident his advancing years have not caught up with her pride and joy yet. Barande-Barbe said: "We haven't changed our routine with him because of what you guys call 'old age'. You (the press) were already saying he was ancient three years ago! "Believe me, he's young at heart, truly, and being an eight-year-old doesn't seem to affect him. Anyway, he's born on May 8, so he's six months away from his ninth birthday. "After trackwork today, we found that he has a sensitivity on the heel of the left front foot, it's not too much of a concern and it should be solved by a new shoeing." The only other European challenger in the field is Roger Varian's Farraaj. Roger Charlton's Captain Cat and the David Simcock-trained Trade Storm are the two raiders in the Hong Kong Mile. Trade Storm ran a fantastic race to finish third in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita last time. Simcock said: "It is going to be tough for us, I'm under no illusions. But as far as the horse is concerned - he couldn't be better."
