Defoe delights Roger Varian ahead of Coronation Cup defence

Defoe is reported in top shape for Friday's bid to defend the Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup crown he lifted at Epsom last summer.

Roger Varian's six-year-old will face an intriguing clash with likely warm favourite Ghaiyyath, staying sensation Stradivarius and last year's Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck in the rearranged Newmarket contest.

The trainer is excited about the prospect, saying: "He's in good form, he looks great. He's trained nicely for the race and I think he's improved a few lengths off his Meydan run in the spring.

"It's a warm, select field, but I'm happy with conditions and happy to be there."

Varian admits he would ideally have preferred the race to be run at its traditional Epsom home given Defoe excelled on the famous Surrey Downs last May.

Defoe was landing his first Group 1 when beating Kew Gardens by half a length in a stirring finish that day and went on to follow up in Royal Ascot's Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.

"Defoe loved it round Epsom that day," Varian said. "However, he has run well in two Jockey Clubs at Newmarket and I have no complaints. Of course, this isn't a normal year and I'm delighted the Coronation Cup is on. It promises to be a great race."

Roger Varian out on Warren Hill

Ghaiyyath, rampant 14-length winner of a Baden-Baden Group 1 last September before finishing tenth behind Waldgeist in the Arc, made a successful reappearance in a Meydan Group 3 in February and gives the distinct impression the best is yet to come.

His trainer Charlie Appleby said: "If Ghaiyyath turns up on his A game then they have got him to beat. His last run in Dubai was over a mile and a quarter and this step back up to a mile and a half will suit him; it's his best trip.

"He's in great order and looks the finished article now as a five-year-old. All being well, a nice European campaign lies ahead for him this year."

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Friday's mile and a half will be the shortest trip Stradivarius has encountered since landing a Beverley handicap over a mile and a quarter off a mark of just 78 three years ago.

Since then he has developed into a true icon of the staying division with an official rating of 122, winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in both 2018 and 2019 as well as three Goodwood Cups. He won ten in a row prior to going down by a nose to Kew Gardens in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot last October.

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