Tag Archive for: Denis Hogan

Make A Challenge makes no mistake in Curragh Sprint

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Make A Challenge outclassed his rivals to win the A.R.M. Holding Curragh Sprint Stakes with ease.

Denis Hogan’s course specialist took his winning tally to five at the Curragh, sitting off the pace initially but challenging inside the last two furlongs and then storming clear under Joe Doyle.

The 9-4 winner never needed to come under serious pressure and had four lengths to spare at the line from 20-1 shot Downforce, with Schroders Mistake a neck further back in third at 66-1.

Make A Challenge, previously second to A’Ali in the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh, has more high-profile targets in his sights after this six-furlong Listed success.

Hogan said: “That was impressive. I wasn’t expecting that, to be honest. I was expecting Speak In Colours (6-5 favourite, sixth) to give us a right test and probably beat us.

“I thought we were always better over five, but that is his ground. There aren’t too many horses that would live with him on that ground, he just motors through it.

“This was only a stepping stone to the Flying Five here on Champions Weekend. He’s in Tipperary during the week in a Listed race.

“We don’t work him much at home. He’s been coming here, picking up prize-money and using races to step to another race.

“We just feel he’s better fresh like that and he’s had a little break, I’d say he’s really freshened up well.

“This time last year he came alive and hopefully he is coming good again.”

He added: “There is a good programme. There is the Flying Five, the Abbaye and Champions Day at Ascot. We’ll look at the three of them.

“It’s great for Joe as well, he’s having a good run of it. Hopefully it keeps raining and if the horses keep running like that I’ll be happy.

“I wouldn’t say Battaash is unbeatable, but he’s going to be very hard to beat. You’d be disappointed that A’Ali didn’t show more (in the Nunthorpe) as he beat us here, but that was on better ground.

“Obviously we are better on this type of ground.”

Hogan working towards Flying Five with Make A Challenge

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Denis Hogan is plotting a path via Saturday’s Curragh Sprint Stakes for his consistent gelding Make A Challenge.

The five-year-old is due to line up in the Listed six-furlong contest as he prepares for future Group One engagements.

Twice a winner this season after clocking up six successes last term, the son of Invincible Spirit was last seen coming home just a length behind A’Ali in the Group Two Holden Plant Rentals Sapphire Stakes.

Hogan now has his eye on a handful of top-flight sprints and is hoping this weekend’s run will serve as the perfect preparation.

“We’re looking forward to it,” he said.

“He’s just had a freshen up since his last run, I suppose we’re aiming for the Flying Five at the Curragh on Champions Weekend, on September 13.

“These are all stepping stones for there really. Speak In Colours will be hard to beat, but he’s beaten him this season already. We’re not expecting to just turn up and win or anything, but we think it’ll bring him on for the Flying Five.

“He’ll love conditions and every bit of rain that falls is good for us. He’s in good nick, he’s drawn in the middle and should really accelerate.”

Make A Challenge is entered for the Listed Abergwaun Stakes at Tipperary on August 27, with the Prix de l’Abbaye also under consideration.

“He has an entry at Tipperary next Thursday,” Hogan said.

“So we’ll see about that. He has an entry in the Abbaye as well, we’re definitely going for the Flying Five but he does have an entry in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

“We’ll look at that race afterwards, but they’re the two targets we have for him so hopefully he’ll get there in one piece. We don’t work him much at home, he does most of his work on the Curragh in his races.

“It’s all good prep for the big one really (the Flying Five).”