Mick Price’s ‘centre-half-forward’ ready for ambitious spring campaign

Guest House proved himself a junior superstar last preparation and this spring is all about showing he’s much more than an early-developer.

The colt Mick Price described as a ‘big centre-half-forward’ will have his first start as a three-year-old in this Saturday’s $250,000 Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill.

The hulking son of Home Affairs monstered his rivals in the Golden Slipper in March and Price said further development over the break had him well-equipped to deal with the ambitious campaign that had been set out for him.

“He’s a bigger, stronger horse – he was 567 kilos when he won the Slipper and this morning he was 582,” Price said 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 be the first of two lead-up runs into the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 26 for Guest House, who will contest the $300,000 Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) in between.

Provided those three runs go to plan, Price and his training partner Michael Kent Jnr intend to contest the $20 million The Everest (1200m) on October 17 before the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington a fortnight later.

Guest House’s San Domenico Stakes preparations have included two trials, a fourth placing over 900m on August 4 before a narrow second placing to Warwoven over 850m 10 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 said.

“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 13 potential rivals for Guest House this Saturday, with Golden Slipper placegetter Music Time, Magic Millions winner Unit Five, spruik colt Central Europe, classy filly Blue Door and Golden Gift winner Revengeance also entered.