BO SHINE BULLET returned to winning ways when landing the third semi-final of the Coral Champion Stakes at Romford on Friday in a fastest-of-the-night 35.07sec (+20) for the 575m – albeit Mark Wallis’s bitch was hard pressed for the victory by St Leger runner-up Night Time Danny.

Breaking as well as she has recently, multiple Category One finalist and Kent St Leger winner Bo Shine Bullet was soon bossing proceedings inside and, a winner over 714m at Crayford, looked in pole position for a comfortable victory.

However, the Stephen Rayner-trained Night Time Danny had secured a decent position himself off the second bend and kept the leader under pressure throughout the six bends at the Essex venue, closing on the run for home to cross the line just a head behind the winner.

The first semi-final was also won in all-the-way style in a fast 35.13sec (-20) by Gymstar Elusive as the John Mullins-trained May 2018 whelp continued his superb run of form to out-gun his rivals into the turn and he was always holding his challengers in behind.

Droopys Aoife (Gemma Evans) was in the qualifying position for much of the way in this first semi, but the keeping-on Bombardier (Mark Wallis) denied the popular local bitch as the St Leger heat winner moved into second place as the line approached, albeit over four lengths behind the victor.

Gymstar Elusive is trained by John Mullins for part-owners Kieren Hickey, Mark Bates and a certain Charlie Lister OBE and, always highly regarded by connections, the May 2018 son of Droopys Jet and Dysert Anna has had his share of setbacks.

Hickey said: “We’re all delighted with him, especially with what John has managed to do with him. It took him a little time to figure the dog out, to find his weight and get him settled at what were new kennels, of course.

“John decided to step him up just a touch thinking he had decent enough early pace and could give stayers a lead – and hang on! It seemed a pretty good plan. In the first round he got caught but in the semis he stayed on well, much better.

“John’s done well to get the dog running again up to some of the form he showed before his injury and you’d have to say this is very much a bonus, although we’ve always thought a lot of him – a Derby dog before his injury.

“As for the final on Friday, trap six is not ideal him being a middle but we’d rather he was there than one of the five railers. There’s no expectation from us owners, we’re just delighted to get to the final after a tough journey with this dog.”

The second semi-final went to the game Kishlawn Shakira as the David Mullins-trained bitch ensured she lines up in Friday’s £10,000 decider as the only unbeaten finalist with another powerful off-the-pace effort to strike gold.

All Fours (Mark Wallis) was the first to show and looked to escape the pack. However Droopys Addition (Gemma Evans) was never far from the pace and challenged the leader before going on, only for Kishlawn Shakira to finish best of all to score by just over a length in 35.23sec (+20).

Romford deputy racing manager Mark Arkell said: “That really was some run from Kishlawn Shakira and, along with Droopys Addition, ensures we have two Romford finalists. However, as we know in these major 575m races here, only your best on the night will do.

“Mark Wallis has won many major titles here and his two finalists give him another great chance, while it’s great to see John Mullins getting a real tune from the always-talented Gymstar Elusive, while Night Time Danny is holding up the St Leger form big-time.

“Open-race fans can now looking forward to another cracking night’s racing here next week, which includes the final of the Mitch Millward Marathon (750m), which remembers the hugely popular owner who still has so many friends here at Romford who miss him.”

Form and trap draw for Friday’s final: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Romford/form-guides/19-FRIDAY-PROOF_2021-10-15-205104.pdf

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=378458&raceId=783365