The 2026 edition of the Golden Slipper has been run, with Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr’s star colt Guest House proving too strong for rivals to claim the Group 1 race.
Below is what the winning trainer, winning jockey and beaten riders had to say following the Group 1 feature.
Winning Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr (Comments Michael Kent Jnr & Ben Elam – Assistant trainer)
Michael Kent Jnr: “He’s had three runs where nothing went right. With the speed on, he finally relaxed. Zac Lloyd, what can I say, he read the pattern, and the horse was so good.”
Ben Elam: “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.”
Michael Kent Jnr on partner Mick Price getting first Golden Slipper: “It’s so right for Mick. 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 Timmy 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.”
On winning such a major race: “That’s very good isn’t it. What a feeling.”
Winning Jockey: Zac Lloyd
Winning ride: “Yeah, it was high pressure, but my colt, he was fantastic. 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 attractable. 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.”
Performing under pressure: “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 just allows the horses to just 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 so yeah, very, very, very happy.”
What it means to win the Golden Slipper: “It makes me quite speechless. 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.”
Parents: “Yeah, I was talking to Ali and I got a little teared up, but not bad. But yeah, my Dad and my Mum – my two biggest supporters. My Dad’s probably bawling his eyes out. He’s quite an emotional man, but I wouldn’t be half the rider I am without him, and I wouldn’t be a quarter of the person I am without my Mum and my Dad. So, yeah, very happy. And to my brother, Jayden, and he’s going to be the happiest person on planet Earth for me.”
Beaten Jockeys:
James McDonald (Fireball): “Yeah good run. Will improve next prep.”
Jamie Melham (Closer To Free): “He was disappointing. He just overdid it today. Didn’t finish off after that.”
Rachel King (Warwoven): “Super run. Tricky gate but he put himself into a beautiful spot. I think he is going to be twice the horse next preparation up over a bit of ground.”
Jason Collett (Paradoxium): “Just too fired up from that wide gate. Didn’t have enough in the tank late.”
Chad Schofield (Stretan Ruler): “Very good run. He had a perfect trip in transit. Travelled well. Good to the line.”
Nash Rawiller (Zambales): “He did a great job. Got into the flow before the corner going forward. Trying to keep out momentum. Found all sorts of trouble up the running.”
Pierre Boudvillain (Music Time): “He went amazing. Had a beautiful run in behind the speed. Took the gap when it presented. Very proud of the horse and the whole country team.”
Damian Lane (Campione D’italia): “Super run. Gave up a lot of ground early on the hot speed. Got a run through the middle of them maybe could have gone close but I had to come wide. Finished strongly.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Hidrix): “Ran really well. At that speed he failed to travel. Balanced up and hit the line doing his best work the last furlong. Will improve into his 3yo year.”
Tommy Berry (Incognito): “Came around them to get an uninterrupted run. Found more trouble there.”
Ben Melham (Streisand): “Super gallant effort. Just a really tough filly. Good job to run second.”
Craig Newitt (Spicy Miss): “She ran really well probably up until the furlong. Just found wanting a little bit in that grade. She is a good filly going forward.”
Craig Williams (Chayan): “We ended up getting into a nice position in reference to where the winner was. He went in. I just didn’t have a horse. She didn’t run up to her form unfortunately.”
Regan Bayliss (Shiki): “She has come to the end of her prep.”
Tim Clark (Pembrey): “She tried hard. She had an OK run from a wide draw. Just the sustained pressure found her out.”
