Guest House established himself as a premier juvenile last season, and his focus this spring is to demonstrate he is more than just an early bloomer.
The colt, whom Mick Price likened to a ‘big centre-half-forward’, is set to make his three-year-old debut this Saturday in the $250,000 Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill.
The imposing son of Home Affairs dominated his rivals in the Golden Slipper back in March, and Price indicated that further development during his spell has him well-prepared for the ambitious schedule ahead.
“He’s a bigger, stronger horse – he was 567 kilos when he won the Slipper and this morning he was 582,” Price stated from Sandown on Saturday.
“So, he’s 15 kilos heavier than when he was as a two-year-old, which is fine.
“But that’s a big horse. I don’t want them any bigger. He’s a big centre-half-forward, that’s what he is.
“He’s an athletic horse, a good-tempered horse and a lovely colt and I’m looking forward to him running very well.”
The San Domenico Stakes will serve as the initial of two lead-up races for Guest House towards the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 26. He will then participate in the $300,000 Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) beforehand.
Should these three races proceed as planned, Price and his training partner Michael Kent Jnr aim to target the $20 million The Everest (1200m) on October 17, followed by the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington two weeks later.
Guest House’s preparations for the San Domenico Stakes have included two trials: a fourth-place finish over 900m on August 4, followed by a narrow second to Warwoven over 850m ten days later.
“His trial with Warwoven was good, the times were good, it was a solid trial and I thought it was a pressure trial,” Price commented.
“He might be a bit vulnerable first-up over 1100, but I didn’t want him running in the Golden Rose second-up.
“He’s got to run in these colt-making races that will help his (stud) career.
“That’s what he’s got to do and that’s what we’re doing.”
Warwoven is among the 13 potential contenders for Guest House this Saturday, alongside Golden Slipper runner-up Music Time, Magic Millions victor Unit Five, highly-touted colt Central Europe, the talented filly Blue Door, and Golden Gift winner Revengeance.
Get involved with the Australian betting sites for the San Domenico Stakes.