HOT LINE: One of the best fillies to race in Jamaica
THE Complete Racing Guide starts a new feature, Memory Lane, which will be presented every two weeks. Great performers in horse racing will be featured along with those moments which are forever etched in the minds of fans. We start the Memory Lane series with one of the best fillies ever to race in Jamaica, Hot Line.
The racing career of Hot Line, a bay filly by Chief Minister – Alert Form, started in 1975. This was how the 1975 Racing Year described the two-year-old performance of Hot Line.
HOT LINE’S TWO-YEAR-OLD CAREER (1975)
Not since None Such in 1965 had a two-year-old chalked up such an impressive record. Unbeaten in five starts, Hot Line trotted up a total winning margin of some 40-odd lengths and, in four of the five races, returned the fastest time in events confined to her age group.
As there was nothing spectacular about her pedigree, it came as a surprise when she made an auspicious debut in the half-mile Cradle Stakes in March, winning by 10 lengths. For until then, she had not exhibited any devastating turn of speed at exercise and, even with champion George HoSang aboard, she did not start favourite in the field of eight in which second-placed Mr Wim went off a clear favourite.
Despite picking up a five lb penalty for her second outing, the Alexander Challenge cup, she came in on a canter. As a matter of fact, she scared away the majority of the nominees and was opposed by only three runners. Following the Alexander Challenge Cup, Hot Line took a rest and her next public appearance was not until late October when she walked away with the Stewards Cup – winning by a conservative eight lengths.
By then she had grown considerably and had developed into a full-bodied medium-sized animal. In the Stewards Cup, it was the first time that she was coming around the turn in a race but it simply made no difference. She maintained a half-length lead into the straight, and then moved away to once again outclass her opponents.
Her next outing was early December when, for the first time, she was sent over five and a half furlongs. Carrying 126lbs, and allowing upwards of 14lbs to each of her five opponents, she won by 12 lengths. Her final outing of the season was in the six furlongs Knutsford Park Cup on Boxing Day, in which she competed against a field of two-year-olds and three-year-olds.
But Hot Line was undaunted by the older horses and this time she came in on a tight rein, five lengths in front of the three-year-old Indigo Chief in the remarkable time of 1:11.3 seconds.
1975 Racing Record five wins from five starts
HOT LINE’S THREE-YEAR-OLD CAREER (1976)
The 1975 two-year-old champion and second runner-up for Horse-of-the-Year honours, Hot Line continued her run of success this year, equalling the legendary None Such’s record of eight successive victories. These included wins in the Jamaica 1,000 Guineas; Jamaica Oaks, and Benson & Hedges Gold Cup among others, and was eventually named the 1976 Horse-of-the-Year.
A sprinting sensation amongst her age group last year, Hot Line’s staying ability was very much in question, hence her task of winning the fillies Classics this year was always debatable. This was emphasised in her first outing of the year, a B2 one-mile event, when Jockey George HoSang had to pull out all the stops to get home a short head in front of the mediocre Silver Shadow.
In the Jamaica 1,000 Guineas, three weeks later, however, it was a completely different matter as she was put in front from the gates were opened and never at any stage looked like being beaten, although stable companion Blue Brocade and the highly thought of Piece and Love, tried to make a race of it.
Apart from the manner of winning, however, it was the time (1.38 4/5sec.) clocked by Hot Line that needs comment, as in fact, it was 1.4/5 seconds faster than that run by Timber King in the 2,000 Guineas only two days earlier.
With that win behind her, making it seven in a row, Hot Line’s next objective was that of None Such’s “8 straight” wins, and this she achieved on her next outing when she clobbered a B1 field by some 10 lengths in a six-furlong event.
However, the record was not to be broken by Hot Line, as without regular ride George HoSang, she passed the post first for the ninth consecutive time in an A2, 6 – furlong event but had the race taken away in the Stewards’ room.
This first loss seemed to have affected Hot Line, as in her next outing she put up her worst performance ever, to finish unplaced in an A2 event. Brought back for the 11/4 mile Jamaica Oaks in September, she made no mistake, winning on a tight rein by a conservative 10 lengths to confirm her superiority over the fillies of her age. A close second to straight five specialist Ramvin in the Happi Home Cup followed, and this was followed by Hot Line’s biggest, if not most prestigious, win in the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup in which she completely outpaced the top horses in training to score a scintillating win and clinch for herself the Horse of the Year title.
This latter win was especially exceptional as she was the only filly in the line-up and had repeated Miss America’s feat of winning from the front in an event that is always fast run in the early stages, thus making it easy for “run on” horses.
Without doubt, 1976 has been Hot Line’s year and she must now be classed among the best ever local fillies.
1976 Racing Record: 6-2-0-0-1-9
HOT LINE’s FOUR-YEAR-OLD CAREER (1977)
The 1976 Horse of the Year started off the new season as if determined to retain her title as she handed her three rivals a sound five-length beating in her opening race of the season, the Pringle Cup; however, she went under to Xtra Classy two weeks later but reversed these placings the very next time out when in receipt of four lbs.
Hot Line again handed Xtra Classy another whipping over five furlongs in the exceptional time of 58 3/5 seconds to make it 2 – 1 over the colt, and moved to the top of the ratings. She more than justified her place at the top, as handicapped with 140 lbs. in the Ivan Delevante Cup, she galloped away from her six rivals, including Xtra Classy (135 lbs), to win by six lengths. It seemed then that there were no more worlds for this indomitable filly to conquer, but she tasted one of her rare defeats when going under to Holiday Prince over 8 furlongs – a distance considered a bit beyond her best.
After that race, Hot Line was sent over distances ranging from 5 – 9 furlongs, no doubt in an effort to be relieved of the burdensome weights, and although failing to again enter the winner’s box was third in the nine-furlong Bonnie Blue Flag Trophy to Derby winners Reca and King Pin to whom she was allowing 26 lbs. respectively, and fifth in the Heineken International – 7 furlongs to Harlequin.
After three years of racing, Hot Line has undoubtedly established herself as one of the best local- bred fillies ever and must rank among the best ever to have raced in this country. Whether she will again be seen by racing fans next season is debatable, but whatever the decision, those who have seen her perform can thankfully say “they knew Hot Line”.
HOT LINE’S FIVE-YEAR-OLD CAREER (1978)
This magnificent filly ran only one race in 1978, a top-rated event over the five straight in a time of 58.3 seconds. After this win she was retired to stud.