Tom Hogan

Tom HoganPrincipal Jockeys: Ben Curtis, John Cullen, Andrew Hogan

Notable Wins:

  • Dial-A-Bet 1800 721 821 European Breeders Fund Novice Hurdle (Premier Victory 2009)
  • Hamptons Furnishings Mares Novice Hurdle (Premier Victory 2009)
  • Kilbegnet European Breeders Fund Novice Chase (Kalderon 2008)
  • Betchronicle Private Client Telebet Hurdle (Kalderon 2008)
  • Vincent O´Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Silver Jaro 2008)
  • Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle (Sonnyanjoe 2007)
  • totesport Summer Festival Handicap Hurdle (Sonnyanjoe 2007)
  • Eventus Handicap Hurdle  (Sonnyanjoe 2007)
  • Bewleys Hotels & EBF Fillies Premier Bumper (Native Royal 2007)
  • Joe Mac Novice Hurdle (Kalderon 2006)
  • Ruby Stakes (Common World 2005, Kalderon 2006)
  • Gladness Stakes (Common World 2006)
  • Diffusion Event Management Hurdle (Rooftop Protest 2005)
  • bluesqcasino.com Handicap Hurdle (Rooftop Protest 2005)
  • For Auction Novice Hurdle (Native Sparkle 2002)

Over the years, Tom Hogan has consistently proved himself to be one of Ireland’s shrewdest trainers. As well as training National Hunt horses with great success, Hogan has also proved himself adept at training Flat horses during the course of his career. His horses are well known for their ability to run on a multitude of occasions in short periods of time, holding their form all the while.

Early Days

Hogan has been training for over a decade and Native Sparkle was his first star performer. She won two bumpers early in her career, but it wasn’t until she was sent over hurdles that she truly realised her potential. She got off the mark in that sphere when winning a maiden hurdle at Killarney in July 2002 and went on to win a novice event at the Galway Festival and the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan in November. While she failed to win again after that success, she more than did her part to raise the profile of the Hogan yard and his fortunes noticeably improved in the seasons that followed.

Among other notable performers for Hogan over the years was the durable Penny Rich, who ran over 90 times for him, winning a total of 12 races and finishing in the frame in both the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle and the AIG Champion Hurdle in 2000/1. Another lucrative performer for Hogan was Rooftop Protest, who turned inside out when transferred to Hogan’s care, winning five races on the Flat and five races over hurdles for him.

Increased Success

Tom HoganIt has been since 2004 that Hogan has really exhibited his ability to train valuable winners both on the Flat and over hurdles. He won the Listed Ruby Stakes at Tralee with Common World in 2005 and Kalderon in 2006, as well as the Group 3 Gladness Stakes at the Curragh with the former in 2006. Another durable performer for Hogan has been Sonnyanjoe. Despite a somewhat slow start to his career in which he won just once in 30 starts, he took off in no uncertain terms in 2007, winning no less than six times including in the Listed Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle at the November meeting at Cheltenham. The aforementioned Kalderon also proved to be a smart performer over jumps, winning the Grade 3 Joe Mac Novice Hurdle at Tipperary in October 2006, the Grade 3 Betchronicle Private Client Telebet Hurdle at Fairyhouse in March 2008 and the Grade 3 Kilbegnet European Breeders Fund Novice Chase at Roscommon in September 2008 before meeting with a premature end at Punchestown on his very next start. Hogan gained a memorable first success at the Mecca of National Hunt racing, the Cheltenham Festival, when Silver Jaro ran out the unlikely winner of the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle at the 2008 Festival. That win was the highlight of Hogan’s career to that point and it helped raise his profile at both sides of the Irish Sea.

Since that memorable win at Prestbury Park, Hogan has continued on with a similar level of success on the domestic scene, with his star performer during that time unquestionably being Premier Victory. Having won a bumper at Gowran Park in May 2009, she went on to win four times over hurdles in the six months that followed, including two successes in Grade 3 novice hurdles in the space of just nine days (the Hamptons Furnishings Mares Novice Hurdle at Down Royal followed by the Dial-A-Bet 1800 721 821 European Breeders Fund Novice Hurdle at Cork). She also finished second in Grade 2 novice hurdle company that season.

To The Future

2010 has seen Hogan match the pace he has set in previous seasons in terms of winners and while he has yet to saddle a big-race winner, he looks to have found a new stable star in the shape of Mount Helicon. The five-year-old son of Montjeu impressed when winning a maiden hurdle at Sligo in August and looks sure to make an impact at a higher level. With Mount Helicon leading the charge, Tom Hogan looks sure to remain a regular visitor to the winner’s enclosure in the months and years ahead. 

Updated September 2010