The weights ultimately told the story of the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill this afternoon with odds-on favourite Deep Field unable to hold his lead in the closing moments with a topweight of 58.5kg against Target In Sight, who carried the 54kg minimum.

All eight runners came out the gates well and Team Hawkes’ Deep Field tucked in for a trail behind the leaders: I’m All The Talk and Kencella. It was a brilliant run from the four-year-old horse, zooming up the outside at the home turn and taking the lead with 200 metres to go.

Target In Sight defeats Deep Field in the 2015 Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill Gardens. Picture: Steve Hart

However his lead didn’t last long with Joseph Pride’s Target In Sight hitting the front to win just a long neck ahead of the favourite with Tahitian Black a further length and a half away in third.

Deep Field, who finished third to Lankan Rupee – the co-highest rated sprinter in the world – in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) on February 28 travelled nicely but was simply beaten fair and square by Target In Sight, who was too good.

Jason Abraham, the stable representative for Pride, was elated with the win.

“An unbelievable win today,” Abraham said.

“We were going to run last week but it looked a bit strong for us and today when we saw Deep Field running we thought we’d be running for second again.

“He’s a good sprinter on his day and he just jarred-up last autumn at Flemington but came back today and the ground was just a little bit softer for him and it really worked out well.

“He likes the speed on, he gets back and he’s got really good sectionals coming home. With James today we said you might get too far out of your ground but he’ll be coming home late and look after him, so he did.”

It was a sweet ride by jockey James McDonald.

“He’s a good horse this, so hopefully he’ll progress into a really handy Group 1,” the hoop said.

“Obviously I’ve ridden this horse in the past and I know he’s very strong over 1100. I was very confident the last 100m.

“He’s definitely up to Group 1 level and hopefully they find a nice race for him.”

Winning the 2015 Maurice McCarten Stakes is by far the career highlight for Target In Sight, who last won the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 28.

Punters who backed Target In Sight at Ladbrokes.com.au enjoyed a lucrative payout with odds of $5.

2015 Maurice McCarten Stakes Stakes Race Results & Finishing Order