ANTIGUA SUGAR landed a brilliant six-timer with a runaway victory in the first semi-final of the Coral Coronation Cup at Romford on Friday.

The Mark Wallis-trained star stayer, an August 20 daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Dolce Vita, recently landed the Peter Bussey Memorial Trophy at Crayford and has continued that form with fastest times in both heats and semi-finals at Romford and will start favourite in Friday’s £10,000 final to land her handler a fourth Coral Coronation Cup after previous success for Reel Trickyone (2014), Roswell Romanov (2017) and Antigua Rum (2020).

Soon in charge on route to a fast 13.35sec split, Antigua Sugar was always in command on her way to a four and a half lengths success in 34.82sec (normal) and once again crossed the line in front of Coral Essex Vase champion Aayamza Magic, meaning the 13-time champion trainer will be doubly represented in the GBGB Category One decider. Third in this heat was Droopys By Amile (Nathan Hunt).

Bonjour Bullet produced an impressive trap-to-line victory in the second semi-final as Belinda Green’s Oaks runner-up secured her place in a third Category One final.

Well away, the February 2020 daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Achieve, fourth in the Essex Vase final in January behind Aayamza Magic, was never headed, although both Peejays Forever, representing last year’s Coronation Cup-winning trainer Jason Gornall, and Droopys Goodtime (Richard Rees) closed up on the run for the line. For the record, Bonjour Bullet scored by half a length from Peejays Forever in 35.08sec (normal).

Reacting to the victory, and looking ahead to the final where Bonjour Bullet will run from trap three, Hove trainer Belinda Green said: “We’re happy enough with the draw. She goes nice and straight out of the white jacket so that shouldn’t be a problem and it’s certainly a lot better than when she had trap six in the Essex Vase final!

“She’s been a great bitch for us. We’ve had so much fun with her and it’s huge credit to her that Friday is her third Cat One final. She’s consistently competing against top company and this final is no different – it’s a fantastic race on a great card at Romford.”

Queen Pink also upheld the Essex Vase form as another finalist when landing a faultless success in the third semi-final, again in trap-to-line fashion.

The Liz McNair-trained runner, recently winner of the British Bred Stayers at Monmore, was quickly into stride inside the fast-starting Butdarewasfour (Gemma Evans) outside, but used the inside line to soon take command and raced away for a four-length success over the local raider in 35.05sec (normal) to maintain her unbeaten record in the 575m annual. Third here was Whitings New Era (Nathan Hunt)

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=394853&raceId=920727

Form and trap draw for Friday’s finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Romford/form-guides/Trap-Draw-Proof-10th-March.pdf