Bullet takes Coronation crown in bikini weather

Picture from Romford Stadium X feed

Green takes Coronation with Bullet

The final of the Coral Coronation Stakes was the spectacle that we were all hoping for as both Bikini Bullet and Tiffield Tarqin came away together and locked horns for the first four bends of the contest. Down the back the second time, Belinda Green's runner started to gain the upper hand and from there, Roy Peckham's Essex Vase winner had no answer to her. 

It was an unbeaten run through the competition for the winner, with Green also represented by the third across the line, Teddie, who filled the same spot as she did in the 2025 final of this race. Underground Jim (Paul Young), Burrows Charm (Jason Heath) and Izzys Tenpin (David Mullins) never looked like getting involved once the front pair had led up but a Cat One final can't be taken away from them.

The other major final on the card was the Guys & Dolls and it was the latter sex who came out on top in Nathan Hunt's Scooby Diamond. Her biggest day in the sun has come over the same track and trip last September when she took home the Puppy Cup, but she had to dig deep to come out on top here.

Gallant Star set her stall out early for Philip Short but she was nailed in the closing strides by the favourite who had tracked her around the outside. A draw in four didn't help Duffin Dermy but he ran a huge race in third for Peckham having moves straight to the rails from the black jacket. That cost the Marine Locke pair Droopys Will and Headford Sarah their chance as well as Piemans Goalie for Mullins.

It was an excellent night for Hunt who picked up three on the card with his Mad For Cash taking the nightcap. She held her line inside Bombshell Bullet early on, gaining enough of a lead to hold off Green's strong finisher by a diminishing half a length come the line.

Hunt also scored a 12/1 surprise with Whisky Elsa. She grabbed the lead off her kennelmate Bretons Girl on the run for home, with the runner-up sent off as favourite. The winner was getting her head in front for the first time since last August and only the third time in her career from 37 starts. 

There was also a winner earlier on the card for Green as Bonus Bullet overcame a missed break to get herself on top from the exit of the back the second time around. She was scoring over six bends for the first time having landed a pair of 500m races at Hove in June.

Although the Mullins runners in the big finals both finished out the back, the kennel will have been delighted with another win for their stalwart Brindle Bully. He will gain veteran status in September but showed there are still plenty of races to be won with him as he dominated his field.

Young got on the board courtesy of Gudhand Ben who showed his rivals a clean pair of pads early on over four bends. He made his UK debut at the end of June with a sprint win at Central Park, and as a winner over further in Ireland, he had no issues with the longer distance. He could be one to follow in the short term at least while he is hot.

Headford Wayne took a 400m race for Locke. He is another who picked up his first win at Central Park, scoring for the third time at Romford since. He got his head in front last week and showed plenty of drive last night between rivals to get himself around the opening bend in front.

The first open race winner on the night came for Richie Taberner with Rios De Janeiro. He made his debut for the kennel in the heats of the Silver Salver at Central Park, only missing out on a spot in the semis by a head in a deep heat, before running into Gudhand Ben at that same track the next time. He clearly has a really decent level of ability and is another to keep on the right side of. 

Cunnigar is king for the night at Sunderland 

Mark Bulmer's Cunnigar King was the pick of the three open winners at Sunderland last night, taking a 450m contest in 26.91. He has won 11 of his 23 starts since joining Bulmer a little over a year ago, including six opens at this track. He has had a single start away from Sunderland when runner-up at Doncaster last November, and clearly enjoys his home track.

The other four-bend contest went to Vialli for Stuart Tighe. It was a successful step up to four bends for the first time here, having shown plenty of pace in sprints. He is yet to really figure out his trapping but he showed plenty of track craft to check inside at the opening bend to gain himself a clear run and get to the front. There still looks to be loads to come from him.

One sprint on the night went to Ted Soppitt's Velvet George. He had finished runner-up on three occasions in his first five career starts but is now off the mark and deservedly so. Hopefully he can build on this with some confidence.