FOUR-YEAR-OLD, American- bred, dark bay/brown colt Gallant Groom made it two wins from three local starts on Saturday, September 26, 2026, easily landing the $1.19-million Ronron Trophy at Caymanas Park, but trainer Jason DaCosta says the best is yet to come.

Ridden by Tevin Foster, Gallant Groom scored by three lengths in 1:13.0 for six furlongs (1,200m) in the Restricted Stakes for imported three-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three) and native-bred three- and four-year-olds (non-winners of four). After being slowly into stride at the off, Gallant Groom coupled up nicely and quickly surged to the front approaching the half-mile (800m).

From there it was smooth sailing despite a challenge from stablemate Eye Of The Tiger (Abigail Able) in deep stretch. Eye of the Tiger had to settle for second, with Hazelnut (Jaheim Anderson) third. Splits were 23.4 x 48.4 x 1:00.3). It was a workmanlike effort from the favourite but DaCosta said that was exactly the plan. “Workmanlike, but you know, I’ve been kind of taking it easy with him. I haven’t really taken him to task yet so he probably needed the race.

I was using it as a stepping stone for future engagements,” DaCosta told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide. Pressed on what those engagements are, the champion trainer was clear that the future engagement is the Mouttet Mile. “Yes, that’s the goal for the rest of the year,” he said. Gallant Groom (Golden Lad – D D Renegade), who had early issues since arriving, is being handled with care. “Not much improvement from the last one [race] but it [this race] was a shorter distance, which is not in his favour.

I think the further he goes, the better for him. So as the races get longer I think it will be better for him,” DaCosta explained. “I haven’t really taken him to task. I’ve just been taking it a step at a time, not asking him for too much, because I had problems early, so I’m just treating him with kid gloves.

So, I’m impressed with how he’s doing at the moment. At the moment he’s happy and healthy, so I’m just timely preparing him and not overdoing it,” he further explained. DaCosta revealed that the plan now is to give Gallant Groom two more starts before December’s big dance. “More than likely he will have two more races before the Mouttet Mile. He’s in Overnight Allowance now, so we’ll go there and see where we go after that,” DaCosta said.

The trainer also addressed the jockey situation, with regular rider Tevin Foster having a strong hand this season. “Well, Foster has two good horses riding; he has Girvano and Gallant Groom. So at the moment he’s on him so we’ll see how it goes, as it gets closer to the Mouttet Mile, which one he would want to ride,” DaCosta hinted.