In a truly historic performance at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, the renowned Golden Slipper winner Guest House not only conquered a 35-year-old jinx but also obliterated a track record that had remained unbeaten for nearly two decades.
Guest House, guided by jockey Zac Lloyd, bravely forced their way through an exceptionally tight gap along the inside rail in the final stretch, subsequently racing away to capture the Group 3 $250,000 San Domenico Stakes over 1100 metres.
This imposing colt, whose value is conservatively estimated at $30 million, is now being considered for an unprecedented attempt at a Group 1 sprint treble, aiming for the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m), the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m), and the $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
If any three-year-old is equipped to potentially win these three prestigious sprints, it is Guest House, a colt distinguished by his considerable size and exceptional ability.
Trainer Mick Price expressed his deep admiration for both Guest House and his talented young jockey, Zac Lloyd.
“Amazing win by a very good horse,” Price said. “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 ($7) positioned himself on the rail behind the leader, Blue Door ($1.95 favourite), entering the straight. Lloyd then urged his colt to push through the narrowest of openings on the inside of the front-running filly.
With very little room available and the inside rail buckling under the strain, Guest House exhibited remarkable determination to break through and then surge clear for a victory by one-and-a-quarter lengths. Blue Door secured second place, while Music Time ($12), a previous placegetter in the Golden Slipper, finished a length further back in third.
The outstanding Guest House, a son of the former sprint star Home Affairs, has now achieved three wins and two placings from his five career starts, rewriting racing history in the process.
Guest House achieved the rare feat of completing the Golden Slipper-San Domenico Stakes double, a double not accomplished since Tierce in 1991.
His 1100m time at Rosehill of 1 minute 02.41 seconds shattered the previous track record of 1 minute 02.51 seconds set by Westicaro in 2007.
Furthermore, Guest House became the first Golden Slipper-winning colt or gelding to win as an older horse since Pierro in 2012.
Following this exceptional performance, TAB Fixed Odds moved Guest House to $3 favouritism for the Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 26 and positioned him at $13 on the third line of betting for The Everest.
Tom Magnier, a part-owner of Guest House and a significant figure at Coolmore Stud, suggested that the colt is a strong candidate for their Everest slot.
“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 remarked. “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 rode a Rosehill treble including wins on stayer Aethelwulf and Epsom Handicap hopeful Althoff, commented on Guest House’s readiness to take 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 noted that Lloyd was aboard the ideal horse to execute the tight inside run.
“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 commented. “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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