Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-day Recap
Guest House (Home Affairs) was an impressive winner of the G1 Golden Slipper for his trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr and his jockey Zac Lloyd.
Rich On Bubbles (Capitalist) bought up his third win in a row in style at Caulfield in the Listed Cirka Valley Pearl over 1200 metres in the hands of Daniel Stackhouse.
Aurum Belle (Snitzel) was too sharp for her opposition in the Listed Supremacy Stakes at Ascot for her trainer Neville Parnham and jockey Brad Parnham.
Unloading (Spirit Of Boom) was an impressive winner on debut as he got up in the last bound at Eagle Farm for trainer Brett Dodson.
Guest House shines in Golden Slipper triumph
In light rain and darkening conditions, the 2026 running of the G1 Golden Slipper delivered a high-pressure contest, and it was the G1 Blue Diamond Melbourne form that stood tallest, with the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Guest House (Home Affairs) proving too strong under a masterful and patient ride from Zac Lloyd.
In one of the most open Slippers in recent years, there was plenty of early pressure. Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) flew the gates from a wide draw, with Closer To Free (Street Boss {USA}) also prominent, alongside the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes heroine Streisand (Magnus). Ciaron Maher had Spicy Miss (Trapeze Artist) enjoying a soft trailing run just behind the speed as he chased his first Golden Slipper.
As the field fanned across the track approaching the straight, with runners angling both wide and towards the rail, the race became a test of timing and luck. Lloyd, positioned back past midfield on Guest House, bided his time before angling back towards the inside, where a gap eventually appeared.
Once clear, Guest House let down powerfully, surging through to score by nearly a length and a half. Streisand produced a gallant effort to hold second after working early, while the Gratz Vella-trained Canberra filly Music Time (All Too Hard) ran on strongly for third, just ahead of the fast-finishing Campione D’Italia (Snitzel), who performed admirably despite being worked up pre-race.
Guest House winning the G1 Golden Slipper | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The victory was significant on multiple fronts. Not only did it deliver a long-awaited Golden Slipper for the Price and Kent Jnr partnership, but it also provided Coolmore Stud’s Home Affairs with his first Group 1 winner from his first crop, achieved in the most prestigious 2-year-old race in the country.
Home Affairs has now sired five winners, three stakes winners, and another four stakes-placegetters so far from his first crop.
Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr was understandably delighted post-race.
“I’m very excited, but I'm so rapt for Mick Price, he has come very close in this race, it’s a bloody hard race to win, what a colt, he is such a robust 2-year-old type and he didn't just win by a small margin, he blew them away really.
Michael Kent Jnr with Guest House after winning the G1 Golden Slipper | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"He got a long way back, further than we thought, have to love Zac Lloyd, he came into the mounting yard with an air of confidence, he knew he had the right horse and he summed it up so beautifully.
“He is a very robust horse, he never leaves an oat, he’s a very sound animal the trick has been his brain, as you have seen in his three starts prior he has had to face adversity, he has been keen, wide, missed the start, got things wrong terribly, Zac got along with him really well today, the addition of the cross-over noseband, the pace being on was the first time we have seen him settle properly, have clear air and have nothing go terribly wrong.
“To win The Slipper, the job is done so to speak.”
“To win The Slipper, the job is done so to speak.” - Michael Kent Jnr
Lloyd was full of praise for his colt after the performance.
“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.’
Zac Lloyd after winning the G1 Golden Slipper | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He 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.”
On 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.”
“It makes me quite speechless. For those people and the owners to give me the faith, I'm just happy I can get the job done.” - Zac Lloyd
Sales info: Guest House was purchased for $270,000 by Mick Price Racing and Breeding Pty Ltd, Roll The Dice racing and Rogers Bloodstock from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Guest House is the sixth foal out of the dual-winner Flamboyant Lass (Stratum) who was also placed in the Listed Reginald Allen Handicap and the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies).
All six of her foals have raced and all of them have been winners, outside of the now G1 Golden Slipper winner, she has left Nitrous - Circuit Seven (H.K.) (Deep Field) who has been a six-time winner and Listed placed, and the six-time winner Command Approved (Spirit Of Boom).
Connections after winning the G1 Golden Slipper | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
This is also the family of the four-time Group winner Attention (Stratum) and the classy Group winner Pasikatera (Thunder Gulch {USA}).
Flamboyant Lass, in recent times, has left a yearling filly by Stay Inside, and was served by Storm Boy last spring.
Rich On Bubbles claims a hat-trick at Caulfield
The Lindsay Park-trained Rich On Bubbles (Capitalist) made it three wins on the bounce with a soft victory in the $175,000 Listed Cirka Valley Pearl at Caulfield on Saturday, with Daniel Stackhouse in the saddle.
The John McArdle-trained Myhro’s Ruler (Wild Ruler) took up the running from Fawlty Affairs (Home Affairs) in second, while Stackhouse was caught a little wide early on Rich On Bubbles before easing to take a trail in third.
Soon after straightening, it was evident that Rich On Bubbles was travelling best. He loomed strongly, took control of the race, and put the field away to score by just under two lengths. Cyclotron (Hellbent) finished second, while Blue And Gold (Blue Point {Ire}) produced a strong debut effort to run third, another half-length away.
The son of Capitalist had previously picked up wins at Pakenham and in the valuable Magic Millions 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge at his last start, and having been the best performed runner in the field, he justified his favouritism in style.
Co-trainer Will Hayes was pleased with the performance.
“It was a great result for the team, he’s the third horse to win three in a row, which is always a great sign.
“We just feel that interstate trip really brought him on mentally. He handled it well, he's a tough horse and stands up to the workload, and it helped his barrier manners were a slight step in the right direction, although he's still a bit of a flight risk.
Rich On Bubbles winning the Listed Cirka Valley Pearl | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It was actually a bit of an awkward race-shape, with a horse staying three-wide, which gave us a beautiful spot in the running, and it was a great ride by Daniel, who summed it up very well.
“It was, thankfully, quite an easy watch from the 200 in and he looks to be a nice horse with plenty of upside.”
Looking ahead, Hayes indicated multiple options remain.
“He has been up a long time, three in a row is a good effort, we’ll be guided by how he pulls up but there's lovely options in Adelaide and Sydney.
“He might be one that can step up to 1400 and there's also Victorian options, too. It's a great position to be in and I can't wait for the Monday discussion.”
Daniel Stackhouse with Ben and Will Hayes after Rich On Bubble won the Listed Cirka Valley Pearl | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Stackhouse was also encouraged, particularly with the colt’s behaviour in the barriers.
“There was much tempo on paper, and it sort of showed in that race just then. His barrier manners are the worst thing that he can do and today I thought that was really good for him.
“He stepped well, obviously, it was a muddling sort of tempo early but he travels lovely. I worked into it nice, I always felt like I had the race under control.
“He (Rich On Bubbles) stepped well, obviously, it was a muddling sort of tempo early but he travels lovely. I worked into it nice, I always felt like I had the race under control.” - Daniel Stackhouse
“He just keeps improving, (he got) very lost hitting the front that early but managed to stay on and he was solid through the line. I thought his win today was a real improvement from his first-up run.
“I think he will just keep going on with it, because his barrier manners have been the most worrying thing about him and they seem to be getting better, which is a good sign.”
Connections of Rich On Bubbles after winning the Listed Cirka Valley Pearl | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Rich On Bubbles was purchased by Lindsay Park Racing for $200,000 from the draft of Kingstar Farm at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Rich On Bubbles is out of the classy Listed Debutant Stakes winner Champagne Boom (Spirit Of Boom), so he is bred to go early. He is also a half-brother to Stoli Bolli (Deep Field) who has been a dual winner and has been Listed placed.
Champagne Boom, in recent times has left an In The Congo yearling colt, an Ozzmosis colt foal, and was served by Extreme Choice last December.
Aurum Belle too slick in Supremacy Stakes
The well-bred Aurum Belle (Snitzel) maintained her unbeaten record with a sharp performance in the Listed Supremacy Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, giving trainer Neville Parnham, and owners Yarradale Stud and Ridgeport plenty to be excited about.
Ridden by Brad Parnham, Aurum Belle was sent straight to the front and quickly found company, with All On Red (Doubtland), partnered by Luke Campbell, applying pressure on her outside. He’s A Machino (Maschino) was left caught three-wide without cover, adding further pressure to what became a genuinely run race.
Despite the strong tempo, Aurum Belle travelled sweetly throughout and, upon straightening, kicked clear to establish a winning break. From there, she was never seriously threatened, holding her advantage to the line.
Snow Monkey (Trapeze Artist) worked home well two lengths behind the winer, as she peeled behind heels and ran on strongly to grab second nearer the inside, while He’s A Machino was extremely brave in third, finishing another two lengths away after enduring a tough run throughout.
It was a polished performance from the filly, who looks to have plenty of upside and shapes as a progressive type for her connections.
Aurum Belle winning the Listed Supremacy Stakes | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Sales info: Aurum Belle was purchased for $725,000 by Parnham Racing and Ridgeport from The Chase draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale
Pedigree info: Aurum Belle is the second foal out of the classy Dame Giselle (I Am Invincible) who was a five-time winner and was successful in the G2 Reisling Stakes, G2 Silver Shadow Stakes, G2 Furious Stakes, and the G2 Tea Rose Stakes, as well as placing in the G1 Coolmore Classic.
Dame Giselle is very well-related being a three-quarter-sister to the Listed winner Steal My Kisses (I Am Invincible), and a half-sister to The Fairy’s Kiss (Eluusive Quality {USA}) who was Group-placed on the track, and then left the Group 1 winning 2-year-old Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) as a broodmare.
Dame Giselle, in recent times, has left an Extreme Choice yearling colt, a Snitzel filly foal, and was served by Zoustar last spring.
Conections of Aurum Belle after winning the Listed Supremacy Stakes | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Unloading lunges late in Eagle Farm thriller
A thrilling finish opened proceedings at Eagle Farm, with the Brett Dodson-trained debutant Unloading (Spirit Of Boom) nailing the race favourite On The Clock (Spirit Of Boom) right on the line to score by a nose.
On The Clock jumped quickly from the inside draw and led, with Ever So Ready (Better Than Ready), trained by Bevan Laming, applying pressure to ensure a genuine tempo.
Just after straightening, it appeared Jag Guthmann-Chester had plenty to offer aboard the leader, who kicked clear and looked set to win. At the 200 metres, Kyle Wilson-Taylor was making ground nearer the rail aboard Ever So Ready, though a minor placing looked his likely result.
Late in the race, however, On The Clock began to shorten stride, and Unloading produced a strong finishing burst to dive and grab victory in the final stride.
It was a brave and polished performance by the debutant, who came into the race off a third placing at the Coffs Harbour trials. To defeat an experienced 2-year-old who had already been a winner marked it as a tidy effort, and completed a Spirit Of Boom quinella - something that has become a familiar sight in Queensland juvenile racing.
Sales info: Unloading was purchased by his trainer Brett Dodson from the Eureka Stud draft for $120,000 from the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Unloading as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: Unloading is the second winner out of the five-time winner Assertory (Not A Single Doubt). She has made a good start to her broodmare career, also leaving the winner Extractor (Spirit Of Boom) who placed in the Listed Lonhro Plate, and General Boom (Spirit Of Boom) who has been metropolitan placed.
This is the extended family of the 10-time winner Cat In A Hat (Gold Fever {USA}) who was successful in the Listed Ascot Gold Cup.
Assertory, in recent years, has kept up her usual Spirit Of Boom mating plan, leaving a colt foal by the Eureka Stud-based stallion and she was subsequently served again by him last spring.
