| Guest House made up for the unluckiest of thirds in the Blue Diamond Stakes with a dominant win in the world’s richest juvenile race, the $5 million Group One TAB Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday. |
| Continuing a well trodden path for Magic Millions sold colts, Guest House came from back in the ruck in the straight to score a brilliant victory for co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr and jockey Zac Lloyd. So fast was his final furlong, Guest House had established a widening length and a half margin on the line. For connections the Slipper win provided the highly regarded colt with a deserved elite win after three runs without luck – a win and two eye catching feature race placings. “He’s had three runs where nothing went right,” Kent Jnr said. “With the speed on, he finally relaxed. Zac Lloyd, what can I say, he read the pattern, and the horse was so good.” “It’s so right for Mick (Price). I’m so lucky I work with Mick. He’s had so many close calls in this race. He’s a great two-year-old trainer. Himself and Jeremy Rogers found the horse.” “I’m very excited. I’m rapt for Mick Price. He gave me a big show in this game and I’m very lucky. And credit to all our staff back at home. A lot of work goes into these good colts.” “And what a horse. He won by a big margin, going away, so fantastic,” Kent Jnr added. “That’s very good isn’t it. What a feeling.” Stable foreman Ben Elam was also beaming from the enclosure following the win. “It’s incredible. It’s a Golden Slipper. It’s the pinnacle of two-year-old racing, and he has taken a bit of work.” “Pre-Christmas, he was a bit of a lad. He went down to Melbourne, and the Melbourne staff did a terrific job with him. He came up here in tip-top shape off what was an unlucky run.” “Since he’s been up here, he has just been an absolute gentleman,” Elam added. For one of Sydney’s hottest riders, Zac Lloyd the win provided the biggest success in his short but feature filled career. “It was high pressure, but my colt, he was fantastic,” Lloyd noted. “He’s obviously a very good Home Affairs colt.” “He broke on terms. He’s been a bit tricky in his mannerisms, but today he was very tractable. I got on the back of the best jockey in the world and I thought, ‘Here we go, we’ll go from here’.” “And I just quickened that well. I was just waiting for a run, but geez, he let down so well. So I’m very happy. I’m so pleased for the big ownership and Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr and Ben Elam, who works here in Sydney.” “Behind the gates is the peaceful part. It’s so quiet. You come from here where you’re talking to so many owners – very up and about. You’ve got to try to stay calm, keep your horse calm. Behind the gates is the easy thing, everyone’s quiet.” “As soon as those gates open, it’s like nothing I’ve ever ridden before. It’s so quick, so tight. I was very happy to find the fence because that allows the horses to relax. They get a bit of comfort by the fence and then you just trust you’ve got the right horse to take the runs. I certainly did.” “It makes me quite speechless,” Lloyd said of winning the Golden Slipper. “Obviously, you see all those great people that have won it before me, and you see what it does for colts, as well as fillies.” “How it can project them and make them worth so much money. For those people and the owners to give me the faith, I’m just happy I can get the job done.” Bred by Love Racing, Henderson Racing and Breeding and G1G Racing and Breeding, Guest House was sold for $270,000 to the stable, Roll the Dice Racing and Jeremy Rogers at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He adds to a wonderful roll call of colts sold by Magic Millions to win the Slipper. Magic Millions remains the only source of a colt to win the country’s most important juvenile contest this century. Interestingly the Home Affairs colt is from Flamboyant Lass, a group performed daughter of former Gold Coast sold Golden Slipper winner Stratum. Flamboyant Lass, twice a winner at 1000 metres, was second in a Listed Reginald Allen Handicap and third in a Group Two Blue Diamond Prelude. At stud she has produced two stakes performed from her six named foals. All six are winners. The win of Guest House provided his exciting first season sire Home Affairs with a third first crop stakes winner and his most important to date. The Coolmore Stud Stakes and Lightning Stakes winner is a resident of the famed Coolmore Stud. Winner: Guest House Breeding: Home Affairs-Flamboyant Lass (Stratum) Race: ATC Golden Slipper Stakes G1 (1200m) Sold for: $270,000 Sale: 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Earnings: $3,320,000 Breeders: Love Racing Pty Ltd, Henderson Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, G1G Racing & Breeding Vendor: Newgate Farm Buyer: Mick Price Racing/Roll the Dice Racing/Rogers Bloodstock Owners: RTD Racing (Mgr: R Norton), A Grant, J Molinaro, Refugee (Mgr: R Norton), D+A Racing (Mgr: D Fielke), G&C Bayview, R Bradridge, Three Amigos, Hallowsand, LMR Racing, Henderson Racing & Breeding, C Watts, AON Racing, T Clark, Mrs A Gniel, Dr B Boan, P Henley, Mrs L Perry, Z Gocturk & C Taranto Trainers: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr (Rosehill) |
