The 2026 Road to the Triple commenced on Saturday last (21 March) with the running of the Hot Line Stakes (three-year-old fillies) and the Sir Howard Stakes (colts and geldings), both contested over six furlongs.
While these races serve as preparation for the loftier ambition of winning Classic events, they nonetheless provide an early indication of the potential within this year’s three-year-old crop.
The Quick Galloper reviews both contests.
1 – The winner of the Hot Line, Taylor Made, and the victor of the Sir Howard, Salute The Don, are both progeny of the Into Mischief stallion, Aveenu Malcainu. Taylor Made is a grey filly out of Another Fury, while Salute The Don is a chestnut colt out of Abicadabby.
2 – The time recorded by Salute The Don in the Sir Howard, run approximately an hour after the Hot Line, was three-fifths of a second quicker than Taylor Made’s effort. Salute The Don stopped the clock at 1:13.4 seconds, compared with Taylor Made’s 1:14.2. Once again, the colts and geldings are the stronger performers.
3 – Trainer Jason DaCosta matched the achievement of his father, Wayne, by winning three consecutive Hot Line Stakes. Wayne secured victories in 2018 with Band of Gold, 2019 with Lady Blue, and 2020 with England’s Rose. Jason claimed his first success in 2024 with Banadura, followed by Social Aviator in 2025, and now Taylor Made in 2026.
4 – Trainer of Salute The Don, Gary Subratie, celebrated his first triumph in the Sir Howard. Subratie previously conditioned two former winners of the race to Classic glory. In 2020, Nipster won the Sir Howard under Richard Azan before transferring to Subratie, who guided him to victory in the Jamaica St Leger, second place in the Jamaica Derby and the Grade One Ian Levy Cup, earning Horse of the Year honours. Calculus, winner of the 2012 Sir Howard under Anthony Nunes, later moved to Subratie’s yard, where he captured the Jamaica Derby.
5 – Winning 2026 Hot Line jockey, Robert Halledeen was winning this event for the third consecutive year, joining colleagues Shane Ellis, and Omar Walker. Jockey Charles Hussey stands alone as the only rider to win the Hot Line four years in a row. Ellis’ winners were in 2009 – Royalty, 2010 – Wild Tradition, and in 2011 with Treasure Girl, Walker started his triple in 2019 with Lady Blue, then in 2020 on England’s Rose and in 2021 on Action Ann. Hussey won in 2002 on Michelka, 2003 on Aero Commander, 2004 on Sega, and in 2005 on Si Mi Trial.
6 – It was a first success for winning Sir Howard jockey, Dane Dawkins.
