Jet Stream Jack took his recent record to 13 wins in his last 24 opens when setting the standard in the first round of the Coral Coronation Cup over 575 metres at Romford.
Kevin Hutton’s Sussex Cup runner-up trapped slightly behind Our Bellissima before outpacing her to the bend. Jack clocked a 13.71 sectional on his way to the fastest time of the night, 35.46 with all heats rated .50 slow.
Next quickest in 35.74 was Derek Knight’s Fivestar Clipper who took his recent record over course and distance to nine from eleven with another faultless performance. Much of the deficit between Clipper and Jack can be explained in Clipper’s sectional, his 13.68 was some way off his best (13.48), but he nevertheless won by nearly 11 lengths.
The odd-on chances were coming thick and fast and with Adageo Bob in retirement, the Wallis kennel’s ace string appears to be Swift Whirlwind. The brindle was two years clear within the first 50, but was under pressure with a circuit gone and blowing heavily as he held off kennelmate Aayamzamodel by three quarters of a length in 35.87.
Only one of Mark Wallis’ five runners failed to make the semis. That dubious honour went to Ribble Aon in the first heat won by Henlow runner Sawdust Shaggy. Aon had looked well placed on the run to the bend where she was bullied out of the rails slot by Corrin Bob. Shaggy went eight clear but was hunted down by the game Gold Collar winner who just failed to get up on the line. Jason Gornall’s winner clocked 36.29.
Final specialist Bubbly Gold was mid division for the first circuit in the fifth heat after Marmalady had left the boxes as though on elastic. But Paul Young’s Essex Vase runner-up looked the class act in the race when coasting home in 36.27.
In his column last week, Mark Wallis suggested that Champion Stakes winner Patches Kerry would need the outing and so it proved in the last heat. Henlow favourite Savanna Razzle took full advantage of the red jacket and although Kerry pursued him throughout, Razzle held on by two lengths in 36.04.
