Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are expressing confidence that Guest House is approaching the Golden Rose in optimal condition, despite a preparation that has presented a few challenges.
Mere hours after jockey Zac Lloyd put the Golden Slipper winner through his paces at Rosehill trackwork on Tuesday, the colt drew barrier five for this Saturday’s $1 million Group 1 event, which has attracted a competitive field of 13.
The Golden Rose will be Guest House’s second start of his current campaign, following a dominant track record win in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 29.
Following that impressive debut run, the son of Home Affairs required a period of recovery, leading Price and Kent to opt out of his scheduled second-up run in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m). They are now delighted with how he has responded in the lead-up to the Golden Rose.
Kent is drawing inspiration from the stable’s 2022 success with Jacquinot, anticipating Guest House’s bid for glory this weekend.
“I think it was a very wise decision to skip the Run To The Rose,” Kent remarked.
“The horse was clearly quite forward in condition and the fact that he could run a track record first up showed that.
“We won with a similar training pattern with Jacquinot in the Golden Rose; he won the McNeil on the same weekend (as the San Domenico) and went four weeks in.
“If he runs to his best and he gets the 1400 metres, he’s the one to beat for sure.”
The betting market reflects a strong belief in Guest House, who is the short-priced favourite. Following him is Warwoven, the victor of the Run To The Rose, who drew the inside barrier and replaced the highly-rated colt St Gotthard as the second favourite after the latter drew gate nine.
Guest House is vying for a historic achievement in the Golden Rose, a race that has held Group 1 status since 2009. No Golden Slipper winner has managed to capture the Golden Rose in that time, despite its ascent to become one of Australia’s most lucrative races for three-year-olds. Fireburn’s fifth placing behind Jacquinot stands as the best result among the four Slipper winners who have competed in the Golden Rose since 2009.
