Guest House makes history at Rosehill Gardens

A remarkable feat was achieved at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday as the Golden Slipper champion, Guest House, not only broke a 35-year-old jinx but also shattered a track record that had stood for almost two decades.

In a sensational return to the racetrack, Guest House, partnered by jockey Zac Lloyd, bravely surged through a minuscule opening near the inside rail in the home stretch to claim the Group 3 $250,000 San Domenico Stakes over 1100 metres.

This magnificent colt, with a valuation estimated to be around $30 million, is now being eyed for a historic bid at a Group 1 sprint treble, targeting the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m), the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m), and the $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

Should any three-year-old possess the capability to achieve such a remarkable treble, it is undoubtedly Guest House, a horse of considerable physical presence and profound talent.

Trainer Mick Price voiced his profound admiration for both the horse and his skilled young rider, Zac Lloyd.

"Amazing win by a very good horse,'' Price stated. "You might even think he has improved from his (Golden) Slipper to come out here over 1100m and do what he did.

"He had to race so genuine as Blue Door was holding the fence and Zac just owns these races, he comes out and writes his own story.

"I thought as long as the horse is running on I would be happy as the race did set up well for the favourite (Blue Door).

"I didn't give Zac any instructions. I knew what I wanted and I asked him what he thought.

"He said one of two things will happen. If he bounces out I will go with him but if he takes 50-60m to get going I will ride a race.

"If I hear the right thing I don't interfere - and I heard the right thing.''

Guest House, starting at $7, was positioned third along the fence behind the leader, Blue Door ($1.95 favourite), as they entered the straight. Lloyd then asked his colt to force his way through the tight gap on the inside of the front-running filly.

The passage for Guest House was extremely confined, and the inside rail strained under the pressure. However, the colt demonstrated exceptional grit to push through and then accelerate away, securing victory by one-and-a-quarter lengths over Blue Door. The latter managed to hold on for second place, with Music Time ($12), a minor placegetter in the Golden Slipper, finishing a further length behind in third.

The outstanding Guest House, a progeny of the former star sprinter Home Affairs, recorded his third career win and two placings from just five starts, rewriting racing history in the process.

Guest House became the first horse since Tierce in 1991 to achieve the Golden Slipper-San Domenico Stakes double.

His performance at Rosehill over 1100 metres clocked in at a blistering 1 minute 02.41 seconds, eclipsing Westicaro's previous track record of 1 minute 02.51 seconds, which had stood since 2007.

Guest House also marked the first occasion since Pierro in 2012 that a Golden Slipper-winning colt or gelding had won as an older horse.

Following this dominant display, TAB Fixed Odds significantly shortened Guest House's price to $3 favouritism for the Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 26, and elevated him to third favouritism at $13 for The Everest.

Tom Magnier, a part-owner of Guest House and a prominent figure at Coolmore Stud, indicated that the colt is a prime contender for their slot in The Everest.

"I came here today under the impression the 1100m would be a bit too short for him but he blew those expectations out of the water,'' Magnier commented. "This wasn't his end goal but to come here and win so well and break a track record, it is very exciting.''

Star young jockey Zac Lloyd, who also secured a Rosehill treble with wins on the progressive stayer Aethelwulf and Epsom Handicap hopeful Althoff, highlighted Guest House's courage in exploiting the inside run.

"I knew at the 400m, the way he was coping with that speed, he was just ready to go,'' Lloyd explained. "And I needed a run, but I knew I had a very good horse underneath me so I wasn't rushing.

"Tommy (Berry on Blue Door) gave him just enough room, and those horses, you give them a message, they're straight in there.

"It was fantastic, and he's actually done that quite comfortably, a perfect first-time run for him.

"He's a big, robust colt and he's only going to get better with every run. For him to do that at 1100m, it's very exciting.''

Price concurred that Lloyd was perfectly positioned on the right horse to seize the narrow inside opportunity.

"If you have the right motor and right horse it is a lot easier than if you are not on the bridle – gee, he's a good colt,'' Price remarked. "I want him in the zone for the three races that makes a colt's (stud) career.

"The Golden Rose, The Everest and the Coolmore - they are three races I want him to be in the zone.

"I thought 1100m was a bit short for him first-up, I did feel, but that is just how good he is.

"Someone said 'could you win the Caulfield Guineas with this' and that could happen but you can't run him in everything.

"He's just a gun colt and very happy that Coolmore have backed him – he's just fantastic.''

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