The Prix de Diane could prove the long-term goal for Moon Target, as Sir Mark Prescott takes a patient approach with the daughter of Cracksman at the beginning of her three-year-old season.
The Cheveley Park Stud-owned three-year-old shone brightly at the beginning of her juvenile campaign, winning smartly at both Newmarket and Yarmouth before pushing Aidan O’Brien’s Precise close at Goodwood in her first outing in Group company.
The big-race assignments would continue through the autumn with a Rockfel third coming between somewhat lesser efforts in the May Hill and Fillies’ Mile and after a busy year at two connections are now biding their time in the early stages of the new campaign.
Moon Target holds an entry for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, but Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park Stud anticipates a trip to Chantilly in search of French Oaks glory the weekend prior to the summer showcase could be the preferred big-race option this summer.
“She’s very good and it’s typical Sir Mark that he’s just taking his time with her,” said Richardson.
“We’ve given her a Prix de Diane entry and she’s also in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot just in case she came back to where we thought she might get up to last year.
“Sir Mark is playing his cards close to his chest at the moment. I mentioned to Sir Mark should we have her ready for a Guineas trial and he said she definitely would not be ready for a Guineas Trial!
“I think the Prix de Diane would be the race he is looking at with maybe a run somewhere beforehand.”
