They say a good colt will always beat a good filly and at Rosehill on Saturday we saw an awesomely good colt in Guest House lower the Rosehill track record when accounting for flying filly Blue Door in the $250,000 Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes (1100m).
On a leaderish track that favoured the front runners, Blue Door always looked well placed from barrier one and under normal circumstances the daughter of Stay Inside would have won, but Guest House is a long way from normal.
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, Guest House ended his juvenile season with a dominant win the Group I ATC Golden Slipper at his fourth start and went to the paddock with untapped potential.
The son of Home Affairs has grown and strengthened during his break and with two recent trials in Sydney to pave the way for his return Guest House presented in the mounting yard as a powerful commodity very much in the shape of his sire.
He was given a brilliant ride by Zac Lloyd, sneaking through along the inside of Blue Door over the final 100m to score an explosive win over the filly with Music Time, who was third in the Golden Slipper, in third place again.
They stopped the clock at 1:02.41 seconds which broke the course record of 1:02.51 set by Westicaro back in 2007.
Zac Lloyd is now two for two on Guest House having also steered him to victory in the Golden Slipper.
“I knew at the 400m, the way he was coping with that speed, he was just ready to go.'' Lloyd said.
"I just 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.''
Co-trainer Mick Price has a spring plan in place for Guest House.
"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 said.
"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.''
A $270,000 Magic Millions purchase from Newgate Farm for Mick Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd/Roll The Dice Racing/Rogers Bloodstock, Guest House still runs in the colours of Roll the Dice Racing, but Coolmore head the ownership group and he will retire to their Hunter Valley headquarters when his racing days are done.
Three wins and two placings from five starts have already netted his owners $3.4million and this could be the beginning of a very lucrative season for the colt, who was crowned Champion Australian 2YO for 2025/2026.
Coolmore boss Tom Magnier was on track and thrilled with the result as Guest House will now be a prime 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 said.
"This wasn't his end goal but to come here and win so well and break a track record, it is very exciting.''
Bred by Love Racing and partners, Guest house was foaled and raised at Newgate Farm and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Nitrous being the best of six winners from six foals to race from Group II placed Stratum mare Flamboyant Lass, a full sister to Group II winner Attention.
Flamboyant Lass has a two year-old filly by Stay Inside and was on-sold this year through Inglis Digital in July for $47,500 to Clarke Bloodstock after missing in 2024.
When Guest House came to light as a Golden Slipper winner, Flamboyant Lass was re-offered at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale where she was snapped up by Tom Magnier for $800,000 with a positive test to Storm Boy, who was Australia’s equal busiest sire for 2025.
Guest House is the second stakes-winner of the new season for Home Affairs, who is the reigning Champion Australian First Season sire.
He has already shot to the top of the Second Season Sires list for 2026/2027 and stands at Coolmore this spring at a fee of $176,000.
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