3 minute read
The Racing and Sports Priceline for the 2020 Coronation Cup.
British racing is back in business and it goes into full swing this weekend with Group 1 racing at Newmarket kickstarted by the Coronation Cup on Friday night.
The race is away from it's home at Epsom but it certainly hasn't lost any lustre with a terrific field setting up a fascinating contest both on and off the track.
Off the track the betting around Champion Stayer Stradivarius will be intriguing back against the stronger middle distance division.
Assessed Prices: Ghaiyyath $3.00; Defoe $3.50; Stradivarius $5.50; Anthony Van Dyk $10.00.
The Racing and Sports Priceline lands at $5.50 and makes Stradivarius the third most likely. He hasn't started longer than even money in the best part of two years but races in the staying division don't take nearly as much winning (from a ratings point of view) as this is predicted to take so the task is far from straightforward.
In his favour, he is certainly not a slow stayer and has for the most part won his races by using his speed against the slower stayers. That weapon won't be as much of a concern to a couple of these but it should still see him well equipped to run just as well back in trip - will it be enough? About 18% of the time according to the Priceline.
Ghaiyyath is the horse most likely and a 2-1 chance in the eyes of the Priceline. He's a very different beast to Stradivarius who has generally won his races by narrow margins but impressed all with his toughness and consistency.
In the case of Stradivarius his rating seems to undersell his reputation. In Ghaiyyath we see the antithesis. Big margins, high ratings, but a reputation for being a flat track bully and not one to trust when one comes up and eyeballs him.
Defoe is talented enough to do just that. Last year's winner sits in the middle of that pair, both on the Priceline's assessment and in type. Not a prolific winner, but consistent and his record does him justice. And high class, but no to the point of big flashy peak ratings.
A splash from both camps, and the Priceline seemingly likes that (along with a fairly recent run), with Defoe the one to be backing against the current market which makes him a clear third pick some 24 hours out.
