Chris Waller’s ace filly Funstar is the red-hot favourite in Coolmore Legacy Stakes 2020 betting when she takes on the older mares at Randwick on Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ this Saturday.

Chris Waller’s class filly Funstar is tipped to win the 2020 Coolmore Legacy Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

Formerly known as the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, this year’s Group 1 Coolmore Legacy Stakes (1600m) features a bumper field of 17 fillies and mares facing off for a reduced $500,000 in prize money due to COVID-19.

Despite the large field, just two runners are under $10 in Coolmore Legacy Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au including the ultra-consistent Adelaide filly Funstar at $2.80.

Last October she won the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at this track and distance of Soft going by over three lengths and Funstar gets conditions to suit again on Saturday.

She presents rock hard fit fourth-up after three good runs this prep, including her Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) victory in the wet on March 14.

Her latest run was in Rosehill’s Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) when fourth only 1.4 lengths off the winner, Australian Oaks hopeful Shout The Bar, as the beaten but not disgraced odds-on favourite.

Funstar will relish coming back to Randwick and a mile for the Coolmore Legacy Stakes and also drops from 56kg to the 54.5kg this weekend in another plus.

Jockey James McDonald continues his association with the hard-to-beat favourite as he looks to hand Waller with a second win following that of Foxplay – ridden by Kerrin McEvoy – in 2017.

The only query facing Funstar in the event is her wide barrier 13 draw, but if she overcomes that she will take the power of beating.

The danger occupying the second line of Coolmore Legacy Stakes betting in 2020 is $9 pop Nettoyer on the short turnaround after her boilover in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) last weekend.

The Wendy Roche-trained daughter of Sebring continued her good form this prep with a surprisingly dominant victory in the classic, the six-year-old flying home on a Heavy (8) with just 51.5kg on her back.

There is no doubting Nettoyer is a class miler, but she goes up notably in weight to 57kg making her a tough choice to get behind at a much shorter prize seven days on from her biggest career performance.

If Funstar and the Vinery form are to be ignored, there could be some genuine value further down the Coolmore Legacy Stakes odds with the likes of Alizee ($11), Miss Siska ($12) and the flying Positive Peace ($12) at double-figures.

Alizee returns as a seasoned mare having won this race two years ago as a filly, the Godolphin-raced daughter of Sepoy coming off a hit-and-miss autumn campaign.

Second-up she won the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) before her distant fifth in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) over 11 lengths beaten and her fifth again last start in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on Slipper Day.

She looks down in grade for this assignment, but has a wide drawn out in 16 for her and jockey Glyn Schofield to overcome.

Drawn the opposite end of the field with the rails run from gate one, the Grahame Begg-trained Miss Siska won back-to-back races in Melbourne before her last start eighth in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) over a month ago.

She has been freshened-up since and won a trial at Randwick’s Kensington track on March 31, the six-year-old So You Think mare racing in Sydney for the first time since her devastatingly close fourth when only a half-length off the winner Kenedna in the Coolmore Legacy results last year.

Positive Peace meanwhile is the intriguing runner chasing her sixth win on the trot.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Startum four-year-old jumped up in grade on March 28 to salute in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill carrying 54kg.

She has a nasty alley (17) this weekend for the Group 1 test over a mile and rises from 54kg to 57kg, but remains a place chance based on her consistent form alone.

Click here for the latest 2020 Coolmore Legacy Stakes odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Coolmore Legacy Stakes Field & Barriers