Mick Price has explained the decision to bypass the Run To The Rose with Guest House, with the Golden Slipper winner instead heading directly to the Group 1 Golden Rose.
The three-year-old produced a brilliant first-up performance to win the San Domenico Stakes in track-record time, but Price revealed the colt felt the effects of that effort in the days following the race.
Price, who trains in partnership with Mick Kent Jnr, is also mindful of keeping Guest House fresh given the plan to return him to 1200m later in the spring.
“That track, when he raced first-up, they were breaking class records, he broke the track record, which was a bit of a surprise to me. I think that track was a lot firmer than what the rating would suggest, and I thought he was a bit jarry for a few days there afterwards,” Price told Racing.com.
“We don’t need to race and race. I think four weeks between runs is fine. I think he will turn up in beautiful condition in the 1400m (Golden Rose).”
Price and Kent are no strangers to success in the Golden Rose, having won the race with Jacquinot in 2022.
Guest House will head into this year’s edition with four weeks between runs before connections plan to drop the son of Home Affairs back to 1200m for The Everest.
The colt is expected to represent Coolmore’s slot in the $20 million sprint, where he could face Hong Kong superstar and current $1.40 favourite Ka Ying Rising along with Godolphin’s Tempted.
Price was impressed by what he saw from both potential Everest rivals over the weekend.
“They were outstanding, both of them,” he said.
“I look at them and say, ‘Wow, what a race The Everest will be and what a pair of horses they are’.”
