Moon Target team optimistic for the future

Moon Target remains under consideration for some major end-of-season prizes, despite suffering defeat for the first time in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood late last month.

Sir Mark Prescott’s filly looked a hugely exciting prospect when making a winning debut at Newmarket in mid-July and she was just as impressive on her second start at Yarmouth under a penalty.

She was a hot favourite to complete her hat-trick at Group Three level on the Sussex Downs, but was under pressure some way from home and was eventually beaten three-quarters of a length by Aidan O’Brien’s Irish raider Precise.

“She ran well and it was the first proper race she’d been in really because in her first couple of races she just sort of dictated,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park Stud.

“Things didn’t quite go her way as she was slow out of the stalls and got a bit of a bump and was caught wide. The winner had a dream run and we were always on the back foot.”

Moon Target holds big-race entries in the Rockfel Stakes and the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. When asked whether those high-profile contests could be on the agenda, Richardson added: “I wouldn’t want to step on Sir Mark’s toes, but we’ll certainly be discussing those sort of races and see where we go.

“I think a step up to a mile will benefit her and I wouldn’t mind trying her on slightly easier ground. The sire (Cracksman) produces horses that go on soft ground and there’s a bit of a Pivotal influence there, so we’ll see.”

Another Cheveley Park-owned juvenile filly who could test her powers at Group-race level before the season is out is the Andrew Balding-trained Imperial Ballet, who bolted up on her introduction at Newbury last week.

Richardson said: “We were very pleased and pleasantly surprised as she’d never been on the grass, so we weren’t really expecting a huge amount.

“We haven’t really thought about plans for her yet, but we will probably creep away I would expect with a view to having a little dart at the Oh So Sharp Stakes in October, maybe.”