Precise eclipses Moon Target in BC WAYI Prestige at Goodwood

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series moved to Goodwood Sunday for the Prestige (G3), where Precise booked her ticket to the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). The Aidan O’Brien filly handled the course better than the hitherto unbeaten favorite Moon Target.

Precise, a $6.60 winner stateside as the second choice, was coming off a maiden score at Cork. With Wayne Lordan aboard at Goodwood, the Starspangledbanner filly stalked the pace set by Spinning Lizzie and stayed on strongly in the stretch.

Moon Target, who had romped in both of her prior starts for Sir Mark Prescott, appeared to be fighting Goodwood’s unique contours for much of the race. Uncharacteristically in the rear early, she did her best to organize herself and rally late. But Moon Target wandered around while trying to deploy her stride, and she couldn’t get on terms with the winner. The Cheveley Park homebred, a relative of transatlantic champion Inspiral, is eligible to rebound elsewhere. 

Precise kept finding to prevail by three-quarters of a length. By finishing seven furlongs in 1:26.31 on the good-to-firm course, she advanced her record to 3-2-1-0. 

Aylin checked in third for trainer Karl Burke, who won Sunday’s Prix Morny (G1) with his highly-regarded juvenile filly Venetian Sun. Next came Sukanya, Spinning Lizzie, Orion’s Belt, and Jennifer Jane. Stimulative Trip was scratched. 

O’Brien was scoring his first win in the Prestige, a reflection more of the multiple options in this division than a significant pointer for Precise. Indeed, one preferred spot for Ballydoyle’s leading lights is the Debutante (G2) at the Curragh, which O’Brien won for the 15th time on Saturday with the odds-on Composing. 

While it remains to be seen where Precise ultimately fits in the Ballydoyle pecking order, she’s been a reliable type so far.

“She’s a very professional filly,” Lordan said. “She ran first at Fairyhouse, where she learned plenty (finishing runner-up in a six-furlong maiden July 9), then she stepped up to seven furlongs at Cork and won quite well. We always thought she’d win her maiden at six furlongs and then go up to seven furlongs, but as it happened, she won her maiden over the longer distance.

“She has pace, and she gets this trip quite well. She was comfortable on the track, although when I hit the front about a furlong out, she pricked one ear, and I was hanging onto her a little bit, which is always nice because it demonstrates she wasn’t doing the full million.

“We always thought the seven (furlongs) would be a nice trip for her, although she hit the line well, so going up another furlong is an option for her.”

Bred by the O’Brien family’s Whisperview Trading in Ireland, Precise races for the Coolmore principals, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor, in partnership with Westerberg. The chestnut is out of the Galileo mare Way To My Heart, who is herself a full sister to multiple stakes victor and Group 1-placed Kingfisher. They descend from classic-winning champion Sonic Lady, the third-placer in the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).