[4] Coastal Bluff's dam Conbattente showed little ability as a racehorse, but her grandmother Tina was a successful broodmare whose descendants included Rose Dubarry, the leading juvenile filly of 1971 in Britain and Commanche Court.
[7] Coastal Bluff was taken into training by Barron at Maunby, North Yorkshire and a three-quarter share was sold to David Sharp[2] who raced the horse in the ownership of his wife.
Barron's stable was known as a "gambling yard" which often landed big wins in the betting market: the trainer admitted "If I can help an owner's expenses, I will.
Coastal Bluff made his first appearance for almost nine months when he finished unplaced in a maiden at Warwick on 1 April 1995, and then recorded his first victory sixteen days later when he took a similar event at Nottingham Racecourse by three and a half lengths.
Ridden by Darley, he was restrained in the early stages before taking the lead inside the final furlong to win by neck from the Richard Hannon-trained Fire Dome.
Ridden as in all his starts that year by Fortune, he finished thirteenth of the twenty-nine runners behind Emerging Market after appearing somewhat outpaced in the closing stages.
In a minor handicap at York on 12 July, the gelding carried 130 pounds and won by a head from Tedburrow after taking the lead inside the final furlong.
[12] The Ayr Gold Cup on 21 September saw Coastal Bluff start the 3/1 favourite against twenty-seven opponents despite being assigned top weight of 136 pounds.
He stayed on in the closing stages to win by a length and a half from the Welsh-trained Mr Bergerac, with Prince Babar and Double Splendour in third and fourth.
He took the lead at half-way before tiring in the closing stages and finished fifth behind Compton Place, Royal Applause, Indian Rocket and Bahamian Bounty.
On 21 August at York, Coastal Bluff was one of fifteen sprinters to contest the Nunthorpe Stakes and started the 6/1 second favourite behind Compton Place.
Despite his disadvantage, Coastal Bluff was among the leaders throughout, tracking Eveningperformance and Mind Games before taking the lead entering the final furlong.
In the closing stages he was pressed by Ya Malak and the two horses crossed the line together, just ahead of the fast-finishing Averti with the 50/1 outsider Cyrano's Lad taking fourth.
Although it was reported that he had recovered from his injury problems,[19] Coastal Bluff failed to show any worthwhile form as a seven-year-old, and finished no better than sixth in nine starts.
Commenting on the horse's later career, Barron said in 2004 "It was a thorn in my side for a bit after he went, and I didn't enjoy seeing him run, but time is a great healer, and now he's with Paul Dixon and at least he's got a good home" [8]