Make A Challenge Team Seeks Group Win in Flying Five

It is all very well bullying inferior opponents, but the Sept. 13 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (G1) at the Curragh will prove what Make A Challenge is made of now that he takes on sprinters of the highest caliber.

There isn't a sprinter in Ireland who can live with Make A Challenge when conditions are in his favor. 

While he's not a mudlark, he handles soft ground better than most, and the fact that no substantial rain has fallen in the build-up to this race is definitely a negative for his chance.

It's hard to argue against the view of Make A Challenge as a big fish in a small pond and this race will give a better evaluation about where he sits in the sprinting stakes given the strong challenge from Britain.

Glass Slippers spearheads the raiding party of eight sprinters, all of whom are rated 103 or higher.

It was around this time last year that Glass Slippers hit top form, winning three in a row, culminating in victory in the Longines Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1). A reproduction of that performance would make her difficult to beat.

"She bypassed the Sprint Cup (G1) and the Nunthorpe (G1) to wait for this and she's in great form," said trainer Kevin Ryan. "She ran a really good second behind Battaash in the King George Stakes (G2) at Goodwood, she always runs her race and should do so again. It's great that Tom Eaves can now go over for the mount and come back and ride in Britain."

The Make A Challenge camp will be all too familiar with what A'Ali is capable of after he accounted for Ireland's highest-rated sprinter over the course and distance in July. 

Que Amoro also has solid claims, having had A'Ali in her rear-view mirror when chasing home Battaash in the Nunthorpe last time.

Expect the pace to be frantic and Joe Doyle to play his cards late aboard Make A Challenge. Whether that's good enough to overhaul the British challengers, only time will tell.

The winner of the Flying Five, part of the international Breeders' Cup Challenge series, will receive an automatic berth in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Keeneland.

Hogan and Doyle Aiming for Milestone

Not only are Denis Hogan and Joe Doyle bidding for a breakthrough group 1 when they team up with prolific Irish sprinter Make A Challenge in the Flying Five, but victory would represent a first group win of any kind for the trainer and rider.

Make A Challenge has come a long way since winning off an opening mark of 68 last summer. There have been five wins in listed company and Hogan is hopeful his crack sprinter can make his presence felt at the highest level here.

The trainer said: "We've been second in group 1s, 2s, and 3s, we just need the ball to bounce in our favor. Hopefully it will. If he runs a big race and can do us proud, we'd be very happy."

On his big-race jockey, Hogan added: "It's also great for Joe and I'm delighted to be a part of his success as well because he's a big team player and he deserves it. He's a huge asset to me and it would be nice to see him get a group 1. 

"When he came back from England, he wasn't keen on getting his licence, and I couldn't understand why because he rides work so well. Since the time he got it back last June, he hasn't looked back, and he's been riding winners every week since. He's a huge addition to me."

Asked what a maiden group 1 victory would mean, not long after losing Sceptical through injury, Hogan said: "To win a group 1 on Irish Champions Weekend would be a milestone moment, a dream come true. To be going there with a live chance, it's something I try not to think about too much really."

He added: "Make A Challenge has had a good preparation and we're happy. We've been winning very well of late but you have to remember we've been winning well in listed company, so we have to be realistic. 

"At the same time, we have the horse to compete in the race and he's as good as any of them. All we need is a bit of luck." 

Master of The Seas Puts Record on Line

The Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) is the one in which Pinatubo produced a spellbinding performance to pull nine lengths clear of his rivals 12 months ago, and the colt's connections are back for more with the unbeaten Master of The Seas.

Also successful in 2018 with Quorto, Charlie Appleby and William Buick rely on the son of Dubawi to maintain Godolphin's strong recent record. 

Master of The Seas progressed from his maiden victory to run out a most impressive winner of the Bet365 Superlative Stakes (G2) at Newmarket last time.

"He's been very professional so far and won the Superlative Stakes in good style," trainer Charlie Appleby said. "It was always the plan to give him a break before heading to the National Stakes and we've been pleased with his preparation. Physically he's done well and this is hopefully a nice progression to the next level. He's a very different horse to Pinatubo in terms of physique and obviously what they've achieved going into the race. Pinatubo went into this with four runs under his belt, while Master Of The Seas has only had the two starts and is a lighter-framed horse by Dubawi."

There is plenty of strength in depth among the home team, however, notably in the shape of Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) winner Lucky Vega.

Jessica Harrington's colt showed himself to be above average when winning on his debut at Naas and, returning from a break, he ran a creditable race behind Laws of Indices in the GAIN Railway Stakes (G2).

He stripped much fitter for that outing when running out a comprehensive winner of the Phoenix Stakes, turning the form around with Laws of Indices, and everything about that performance suggested he'd be just as good stepping up to seven furlongs.

"He's done what he's done and seems to be in great form," Harrington said. "We're stepping up to seven furlongs but he seemed to run through the line very strongly over six last time."

Ken Condon, trainer of Laws of Indices, is looking forward to the seven-furlong affair with his runner.

"I'm very happy with him. He's continued to do well and we think he'll appreciate the step up in distance. He's in good shape and continues to improve," he said.

Aidan O'Brien has won this with some classy colts and the master of Ballydoyle's challenge is headed by Battleground, winner of the Chesham at Royal Ascot and the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes (G2) at Goodwood last time.

"Battleground has done all we've asked of him and has done everything right since Goodwood," O'Brien said.

Pretty Gorgeous Eyes Moyglare Score

Of all the group 1 races on this exceptional weekend of racing, the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) may be the most straightforward.

Joseph O'Brien's Pretty Gorgeous is well named and could easily be three from three, only to have been beaten in a tactical affair in the Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown.

On that occasion, Donnacha O'Brien's Shale (IRE) got first run on Pretty Gorgeous, but the latter reversed the form when running out a comprehensive winner of the A.R.M Holding Debutante Stakes (G2) over the course and distance last month.

A reproduction of that effort would leave Pretty Gorgeous extremely difficult to beat and she rates a worthy favorite.

One of the stories of the season has been Ken Condon's glorious run with his 2-year-olds, and Teresa Mendoza and Thunder Beauty represent the trainer here.