By Molly Hunter, PA
Moon Target can rise to the task in the Betfred May Hill Stakes at Doncaster.
Trained by Sir Mark Prescott for owners Cheveley Park, the two-year-old daughter of Cracksman has run three times to date through her juvenile career.
She made her debut in a Newmarket maiden in July, winning by a significant margin of five and a half lengths over a seven-furlong trip and beating nine rivals.
She followed that success up with another in a Yarmouth novice, scoring by seven and a half lengths to boost her reputation as a filly with real ability.
The bay then stepped into Group Three company at Goodwood, contesting the Prestige Fillies' Stakes and missing out by only three-quarters of a length when coming second.
She now moves up in both grade and trip, tackling a mile for the first time on Town Moor, with her pedigree suggesting the distance should be no trouble at all.
Connections felt her only beaten run was the result of a less than ideal passage through the race, and also expect her to appreciate the cut in the ground that is likely to materialise at Doncaster.
On the same card is the Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes, another Group Twobut this time run over a mile and six furlongs.
William Haggas' Santorini Star is a proven stayer, with her last run a smart success in the Sky Bet Stayers Handicap at York over two miles.
Prior to that she was placed at both Listed and Group Three level over lesser trips, a slight stalling of the upwards trajectory she was consistently following in prior efforts.
She steps back down to 14 furlongs at Doncaster, but the going is likely to bring stamina to the fore even at a lesser trip and she certainly is not short of that quality.
In the Weatherbys Scientific 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes, it is Aidan O'Brien's Brussels who can prevail having made the trip over from Ireland.
The son of Wootton Bassett won a Curragh maiden on debut before being beaten into fourth place in the July Stakes at Newmarket, after which he was the runner-up of the Listed Churchill Stakes at Tipperary.
He appears to have more to offer than that and having crossed paths with some very high quality horses, he will have slightly less to contend with this time when ridden by Christophe Soumillon.
At Epsom, it is Ollie Sangster's Red Tsarina who can land the Yale Smart Stride EBF Novice Stakes as she looks to continue her progression having been the runner-up on debut and then a winner last time.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
DONCASTER: Race 1: 14.15 Miss Piggle, Race 2: 14.50 Brussels, Race 3: 15.25 MOON TARGET
(NAP), Race 4: 16.00 Santorini Star, Race 5: 16.35 Devil's Advocate, Race 6: 17.10 Wechaad,
Race 7: 17.43 Boiling Over, Race 8: 18.15 Best Adventure.
CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 14.25 Lady Kodiac, Race 2: 15.00 Golden Garden, Race 3: 15.35 Startling,
Race 4: 16.10 Sarabi, Race 5: 16.45 Alyara, Race 6: 17.20 Love Is The Law, Race 7: 17.50 Soldiers
Star, Race 8: 18.20 Blessed Star, Race 9: 18.50 Polar Rebel.
EPSOM: Race 1: 14.37 Red Tsarina, Race 2: 15.12 Kisskodi, Race 3: 15.47 Questionable, Race 4:
16.18 Saligo Bay, Race 5: 16.53 Glitter Code, Race 6: 17.25 Tronido, Race 7: 18.00 Pink Azalea.
UTTOXETER: Race 1: 17.30 Betty's Tiara, Race 2: 18.05 Getaway Jewel, Race 3: 18.35 Another
Lord, Race 4: 19.05 Ballygeary, Race 5: 19.35 Chosen Bae, Race 6: 10.05 Hammer Dan.
NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 17.55 Majaz, Race 2: 18.25 Coloane, Race 3: 18.55 Jedhi Knight, Race 4:
19.25 Not Now Nathaniel, Race 5: 19.55 Miss Hathaway, Race 6: 20.30 Get Up Everybody, Race
7: 21.00 Spitzbergen, Race 8: 21.30 Cooperation, Race 9: 22.00 Enpassant.
DOUBLE: Moon Target and Brussels (Doncaster, Races 2 and 3).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za