How to play the 2020 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood

The Sussex Stakes at Goodwood

• 10:15 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning

It's being called the race of the year to date in England, and it's hard to argue Wednesday's Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood hasn't come up stellar. After a couple of lean seasons for older milers on the continent, the Sussex will pit a couple star older runners against a deep and talented cast representing the classic generation.

Esthetically, the Sussex figures to be a fascinating watch. However, as a betting proposition, the race might prove too formful to yield any great surprises.

The mile at Goodwood is doable even for a horse that might have trouble getting a stiffer mile elsewhere, 2019 Sussex winner Too Darn Hot being a case in point. That should only help early favorite #5 SISKIN (2-1), who squashed any doubts about his own ability to stretch out when overcoming a congested stretch run and turning on the afterburners late to win the Irish 2000 Guineas (G1) at The Curragh in his season debut June 12.

That pushed his career record to 5-for-5, and while his ability to take his talent on the road is still a bit of an unknown, he can follow in the hoof steps of Frankel and Kingman as 3-year-old winners of the Sussex for Juddmonte.

The value in the betting is likely to come in finding a bit longer price for the exacta, and here we'll take multiple Group 1 winner #1 CIRCUS MAXIMUS (7-1), who ran Too Darn Hot to a half-length in the 2019 Sussex.

The Aidan O'Brien trainee possesses a grinding style that will never appeal to the eye, but it's been useful enough to register past wins in races like the St James's Palace (G1), Prix du Moulin (G1), and Queen Anne (G1). While he can't outkick them all, especially on good ground, his class should ensure he can out-finish most of them.

Second choice #2 Mohaather (5-2) is a popular alternative pick to Siskin, especially after such an eye-catching win the Summer Mile (G2) at Ascot last time. We liked him in the Queen Anne (G1) two back, but he ran below par when lacking a clear run in the final furlongs. That trouble was perhaps a bit overstated, though, as it didn't appear he was picking up all that readily even with the traffic ahead of him. He might simply have been in need of a race, which set him perfectly against a lesser cast next out. He's a potential Group 1 talent, but we'll take a stand against him.

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What's the bet?

The play is Siskin to win and a straight exacta of Siskin over Circus Maximus.

The Sussex post time is 10:15 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning and can be watched and wagered on at TwinSpires.com.