3-year-old Summary: Guest House makes history with brilliant San Domenico triumph

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Guest House explosive and willing in the San Domenico

There may always be a question around how G1 Golden Slipper winners come back as 3-year-olds, but the big, strong colt Guest House (Home Affairs) showed he is back bigger and better with an outstanding first-up win in the G3 San Domenico Stakes in the hands of Zac Lloyd at Rosehill over 1100 metres in track record time of 1.02.41.

As expected, the flying filly Blue Door (Stay Inside) took up the running in the hands of Tommy Berry, but she didn’t have it her own way, as both Music Time (All Too Hard) and Revengeance (Hellbent) forced the issue.

Lloyd situated Guest House into a distant trail and, albeit a little keen, he was travelling comfortably. At the top of the straight, Berry kicked hard and had the field chasing. Guest House looked to be travelling but had nowhere to go.

Lloyd committed to an inside run and had to be patient, but at about the 100-metre mark, he burst through a tight gap and ran away to score by just over a length from Blue Door, who was brave after being softened up, with Music Time another length behind in third.

All honours go with the colt wearing the Roll The Dice Syndication colours, but with Coolmore Stud now in the ownership after buying into the colt after his G1 Golden Slipper success earlier in the year.

Guest House became the first horse to complete the Golden Slipper-San Domenico double since Tierce in 1991, broke the track record that has stood since 2007 and became the first colt or gelding that has won the G1 Golden Slipper to win as an older horse since Pierro.

"Amazing win by a very good horse,'' Winning co-trainer Mick Price said.

"You might even think he has improved from his (Golden) Slipper to come out here over 1100m and do what he did.

"He had to race so genuine as Blue Door was holding the fence and Zac just owns these races, he comes out and writes his own story.

"I thought as long as the horse is running on I would be happy as the race did set up well for the favourite (Blue Door).

Price reaffirmed that he had given jockey Zac Lloyd no real instructions as the Golden Slipper winning combination joined forces again.

"I didn't give Zac any instructions. I knew what I wanted and I asked him what he thought. He said one of two things will happen. If he bounces out I will go with him but if he takes 50-60 metres to get going I will ride a race.

Lloyd feels even more is to come for the big colt.

“He's a big, robust colt. He's only going to get better with every run he has and for him to do that at 1100 metres, it's very exciting," Lloyd said.

“It’s good to have him back. I knew at the 400 metre mark, the way he was coping with that speed, he was just ready to go. needed a run, but I knew I had a very good horse underneath me, so I wasn't rushing. Tommy gave him enough room, and those horses, you give them a message, they're straight in there.

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 Guest House who adds the G3 San Domenico Stakes to his G1 Golden Slipper win, 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).

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 2-year-old filly by Stay Inside, and is due to foal to Storm Boy any day now.

American Eagle soars highest in the McNeil

The exciting American Eagle (Too Darn Hot {GB}) took his record to two wins from only two starts as he narrowly prevailed in the G3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield.

Wearing the easily recognisable MyRacehorse colours, American Eagle stepped straight up to Group 3 level with aplomb after scoring in 2-year-old Handicap company midweek at Sandown in mid-July.

It was Phillip Island (Written Tycoon) that took up the running in the hands of Jordan Childs, while Seize The Day (I Am Invincible) and Confederation (Wootton Bassett {GB}) were also prominent.

Mark Zahra worked American Eagle eventually into the trail from his inside gate and travelled sweetly, while the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO winner Unit Five (Supido) settled worse than midfield with cover in the hands of his regular pilot Thomas Stockdale.

Zahra manoeuvred American Eagle into the clear and he burst to the lead and looked the likely winner. Unit Five ran on very strongly out wide to just miss in a very good return, while his stablemate Seraphox (Harry Angel {Ire}) was an eye-catcher in third, with the leader Phillip Island sticking on well for fourth.

“It's the time of year that you're hoping to have horses like these, particularly colts go to these sorts of races,” said co-trainer Sam Freedman.

“Anthony had a good opinion of this horse very early days up in Sydney, that’s been vindicated, the horse has come down here and shown class at home.

“He looks the real deal so hopefully he’ll keep getting better. Our plan was always to go to the Guineas Prelude, but I mean he's pretty brilliant.

“He's got a nice turn of foot, he can take up a spot. You're aiming for either a Coolmore or a Guineas, but we'll have a dust set and see how he pulls up.

“One thing I'd say as well, he's won on soft ground in the winter and it’s probably got a bit of give today, so still want to tick a box on firm ground but he's progressive.”

“He'll give himself a chance to run a mile if he want to go that way. I thought he was knocking up probably the last 50 metres, he was probably just ready for the six (furlongs) today.

Freedman was unsure on which way he will head and when asked if Sydney could be an option, he was open to the suggestion.

“So whether we push on, a Prelude, and then whether you pivot and you go to the guineas or whether you go freshen and go to the Coolmore.

“For sure, you've got a Golden Rose there. There's probably more seasoned horses at that point in time going to that sort of race but the fact he can take up a spot I think is going to hold him in good stead once he gets out in trip if he does get to a mile in time and the 1400 metres is a nice stepping stone so we've got some decisions to make."

Zahra was impressed with the colt.

“He’s a very nice horse, he jumped really quick and then nearly fell over after that, but he picked himself up and I got to the front a fair way out, good job to battle on, he went again when the other horse came to me.

“There’s a heap of improvement to come, he’s got a very bright Spring ahead of him.”

When asked if he looks a Guineas contender, Zahra felt he would run out the trip.

“I think so. He’s pretty sharp but he’s on the right path first up, you head that way and he’ll be on the right path.

“He’s still very green, he’s got a lot to learn but he’s very tractable, every race he’ll get better, when the grand final comes hopefully he’s at his best.”

Sales info: American Eagle was purchased for $400,000 by Anthony Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Yulong draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: American Eagle is the third foal and third winner out of the six-time winning Redoute’s Choice mare Awake The Stars. The best of her winners has been Stardealt (Dundeel {NZ}), who has won over 1600 metres and was also placed in the Listed Tasmanian Derby.

American Eagle's grandam My Chicharita (NZ) (Towkay) won the G2 Royal Stakes over 2000 metres at Ellerslie as a 3-year-old filly. This is also the extended family of the 14-time winner and three-time Group 2 winner Le Zagaletta (Last Tycoon {Ire}).

Awake The Stars, in recent times, has left a yearling colt by Grunt (NZ) and is due to foal to King Colorado in early October.

Plagiarism does it his own way in the Up And Coming

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 3-year-old gelding Plagiarism (Written By) had always shown plenty of precociousness and ability as a 2-year-old and, while it may have been a surprise that he remained a maiden throughout the season, he ran in many of the best 2-year-old races.

Coming back as a 3-year-old, he put the writing on the wall with a strong third behind the exciting Steel Will (I Am Invincible) at 3-year-old BM72 grade and, second-up, collected his maiden at Group 3 level in the Up And Coming Stakes.

He dominated from the start in the hands of Regan Bayliss, taking up the lead and never relinquishing it. The well-backed duo of Genesis Runner (Gun runner {USA}) and Savagram (NZ) (Savabeel) also settled handy.

Nothing really changed. Plagiarism kicked, dominated and won by just under a length from Genesis Runner, with Hostwin King (King’s Legacy) in third and Savagram an improver's run in fourth.

"We have had in all the biggest races so far, we haven't run him in maidens, and that was his first win today,'' Bott said.

"Last preparation we chased the Golden Slipper dream but it just wasn't happening for him. I feel having the horse gelded has helped him, definitely. He was impressive today.''

When asked about the way the race unfolded, Bott was quick to deflect praise to Regan Bayliss.

"He's a horse that's always shown so much natural brilliance and speed and wanted to see him be able to utilise that today and Regan led him and he executed it perfectly," Bott said.

"He was a great effort there first-up carrying the big weight and he's obviously taken great improvement off that."

Bayliss was impressed with the win and was always confident in running.

"What helps him is that he's got a lovely big action on him, so I didn't even really put the bridle in his mouth, just kept him in a nice rhythm," Bayliss said.

"I knew he was going to be hard to beat from about the 500 metre mark.

"I just gave him a little click-up and he came up straight underneath me and had the run in his belt. He's not a bad horse himself and it was quite a nice win."

Sales info: Plagiarism was purchased for $120,000 by Redfox Racing from the Widden Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis premier Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Plagiarism is the second foal and first winner out of the Snitzel mare Profiterole who is a full-sister to the dual Listed-winning 2-year-old Nomothaj (Snitzel).

This is also the extended family of the G1 Galaxy Handicap winner Mariamia (Toronado {Ire}) and the G1 Victorian Derby winner Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}).

Profiterole, in recent times, has left a yearling colt by Jacquinot and is due to foal to Written By in October.

Perfect Chaos breaks through in the Wanganui Guineas

It’s always a special moment when a promising galloper wins their maiden, but even more special when they do it at Listed level in a Guineas, and that is exactly what the Stephen Marsh-trained Perfect Chaos (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) did at Wanganui on Saturday.

The filly by the in-form Hello Youmzain (Fr), who also sired last year’s winner of the race in Platinum Diamond (NZ), placed in all four of her starts as a 2-year-old and showed she had taken benefit from that race experience and a bit of time, with what was overall a pretty dominant win in the hands of George Rooke by just under a length.

There was plenty of pace early and eventually it was Mereana Hudson aboard Startles (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) who took up the running, with Rooke aboard Perfect Chaos content to sit outside the leader, with Wiremu Pinn electing to trail on the Andrew Campbell-trained Singletary (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}).

The race ended up being an on-pace dominated race, with Perfect Chaos taking over around the 250-metre mark and always having the race in control, with O’Baby (NZ) (Ardrossan) running into second from the one-one position and Singletary battling on bravely for third.

An eye-catcher was Honorable (NZ) (Proisir), who ran into fourth from back in the field, against the obvious race shape.

Stable representative Dylan Johnson was delighted to see Perfect Chaos break through in style.

“It was a top ride as we wanted to be positive early and take any bad luck out of it,” Johnson said.

“She travelled beautifully throughout, although she was a bit of a sitting duck after doing that early work. Her form at two was impeccable and she is a filly we didn’t pay a hell of a lot of money for.

“She is by Hello Youmzain and he is starting to kick a few goals, while she is well bred on her dam side. To get valuable black-type in the spring of your three-year-old season is outstanding.”

Johnson believes the filly has the potential to go to a higher level later in the spring.

“She travelled down here beautifully, and physically she has continued to mature and is a lovely horse to do anything with,” he said.

“She is nominated for the Guineas (G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas) so we would like to get her out to 1400 metres in time, but we have the runs on the board now and we can plot our way through to Christchurch.”

Rooke was suitably impressed with the effort after having some concerns about his mount handling the Heavy 10 track surface.

“She looked fantastic, although she had only the one trial so I thought fresh-up on heavy ground could be a problem,” he said.

“She jumped and put herself there with natural speed and we got a breather, and I thought if she got through the ground she was going to be hard to beat, which she was.

“She was in great nick and ready to go today.”

Sales info: Perfect Chaos was purchased by Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for NZ$50,000 from The Oaks Stud draft at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Perfect Chaos is the second foal and first winner for the Group 3 winning filly Kali (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and holds a 3 x 3 cross of the mighty Danehill (USA) both directly through the sire line and dam sire line.

Kali is a half-sister to Royal Dominance (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) who was a winner over 1400 metres and placed in the G2 Royal Stakes.

This is the extended family of the G1 West Australian Derby winner Markus Maximus (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) and the international Group 1-winners and stallions Elvstroem and Haradasun and their Group 1 winning dam Circles Of Life (Marscay).

Unfortunately Kali has failed to produce a live-foal since Perfect Chaos for her breeders The Oaks Stud, having missed to Hello Youmzain two seasons in a row, but she was due to foal to the in-form Cambridge Stud based stallion again earlier this month.