FABULOUS SONIQUE (4-5F) landed the Category One title her talents so richly deserved when racing away for victory in the final of the Coral Coronation Cup at a packed Romford on Friday.

Lining up a red-hot favourite to land the £10,000 prize after a impressive semi-final victory on a night kennelmate and reigning champion New Destiny bowed out of the 575m competition, the Mark Wallis-trained and MWD Partnership-owned runner grabbed her chance for ‘black type’ with all four paws as a show of early pace and supreme middle speed took the night’s showpiece event at the Essex venue by the scruff of the neck.

Golden Palace (Michelle Brown) was first show from lid-rise on his way to one of his best runs at Romford. However, soon in top gear was Fabulous Sonique who took a line inside her rival to hit the front at the bend and quickly put daylight between herself and his rivals, albeit the eventual runner-up never gave up the chase before crossing the line two and a quarter lengths behind the 34.80sec (+20) winner.

Third in January’s Coral Essex Vase Final to Droopys Eunice having also filled the same position behind Romeo Steel in the BGBF TruFrame Champion Stakes Final on Derby final night at Towcester, Fabulous Sonique has been a star of Imperial Kennels for a long time and boasts one of the best open-race records in training – not to mention a fine Romford record. Friday’s win at the London Road venue was her 23rd win in 44 starts at the track.

“Sonia seems to run Romford now better than ever,” said winning trainer Wallis. “She’s rarely out of the first three there. In fact you’d have to go back to last October for the last time that’s happened – and she’s a Romford regular.

“She’s loved at the kennels and everyone is just so delighted she’s won her first major trophy,” added Wallis of the Dave Firmager-bred British-bred July 2021 daughter of Magical Bale and Fabulous Pearl.

In terms of the future, the champion trainer said a crack at the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes back at Romford would likely be the plan. “We’ll give her a couple of races away from Romford and then bring her back fresh for the Champion Stakes,” he said. “It certainly worked for the Coronation Cup and it’s great to have won it again. It’s proving one of our favourite competitions.”

Success for Fabulous Sonique was a sixth Coronation Cup title for Wallis after Reel Trickyone (2014), Roswell Romanov (2017), Antigua Rum (2020), Antigua Sugar (2023) and New Destiny (2024). 

“Thanks as ever to all the team who make it possible,” added Wallis.