Moon Target

The horse wins roughly 1 in every 4 races overall (2 wins from 8), but the numbers tell a more interesting story when you look at the distances it handles best. Over 7 furlongs to a mile, Moon Target is genuinely effective, winning 2 of its 5 attempts at that range — a 40% win rate that suggests it has a genuine sweet spot. The problem is that when stepped up to compete in the very best races, the horse has found the jump too steep: it has run in four Class 1 events without winning any of them.

Luke Morris rides the horse most often, with one win from five outings together. Sir Mark Prescott, one of British racing's sharpest trainers, handles Moon Target from his Newmarket base. Prescott's yard has already sent out 47 winners this season, so the horse is in experienced hands. Whether Moon Target can rediscover the form that brought it success last summer remains to be seen, but at three years old it still has time to make up ground. Right now, though, it looks more comfortable at a shade below elite level, where its proven distance range and recent consistency might yet bring another win.