Pupil earns top marks for Mastercraftsman

Pupil (2c Mastercraftsman-Blue Iris, by Petong) was another smart first-crop winner for Mastercraftsman on Thursday when winning a competitive Doncaster maiden.

The Richard Hannon-trained colt stormed past his rivals through the final furlong to take the mile contest by a length and a half.

"On his debut, he was a bit green then in a race that wasn't run to suit," said rider Richard Hughes. "But this time he knew what to do."

Pupil, a 130,000 euros yearling, may have the 10-furlong Listed Zetland Stakes at Newmarket as his next target. "He'll be a lovely one to go to war with next year," said Richard Hannon jr, assistant to his father. "He was always a lovely yearling but took time to come to himself and was a bit weak and disorganised first time and needed a run to sort himself out. But he's got a lot of scope and a good action and attitude. He looks a proper horse, and he's got a proper pedigree."

Pupil's dam is a Listed-placed sprinter from the family of smart performers Swiss Lake, Swiss Spirit and Anita's Prince.