Guest House banishes Slipper curse at Rosehill
Trevor Marshallsea
ANZ News
Exciting colt Guest House (Home Affairs) emphatically showed he was suffering no Golden Slipper hangover as he validated Coolmore’s investment in him with a stunning victory in Saturday’s San Domenico Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Rosehill.
In a breathtaking return at the scene of his autumn triumph, Guest House became the first winner of the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) to take out the three-year-olds’ San Domenico since Tierce (Victory Prince) in 1991.
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Not only that, he set a new track record of 1:02.41 – shaving a tenth of a second off the old mark held by Westicaro (Westbridge) since February, 2007 – in a display co-trainer Mick Price called “amazing”.
The hulking bay indicated he had come back as perhaps an even more formidable unit than in his stellar two-year-old season, as he appeared to well and truly lay to rest any fears of the Slipper winners’ “curse”. The past five colts to claim Australia’s greatest stallion-maker have failed to win again, with the last to score a subsequent victory being 2012 hero Pierro (Lonhro).
Bookmakers certainly responded with a firm vote of confidence in the son of Home Affairs (I Am Invincible), who also ran third last campaign in Caulfield’s Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
He shortened to $3 favouritism for his next stallion-maker, the Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m) on September 26, and to $4 favouritism for another one, the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington on October 31.
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In between those two, Guest House was also wound in to become a $13 equal third favourite for The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) on October 17, behind Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) at $1.50 and Tempted (Street Boss) at $9.
Coolmore, who stumped up a reported $30 million to make Guest House one of their future stallions following his Slipper success, hold a slot for The Everest, and the colt looks likely bound for that race, where he’d carry a light three-year-old’s impost of just 53 kilos under the weight-for-age scale.
Certainly on Saturday’s evidence – with a topweight of 58.5 kilos under set weights and penalties – it would be madness not to take a shot at the $20 million prize-money on offer for the Randwick feature.
Well ridden by his Slipper partner Zac Lloyd, Guest House jumped strongly from an awkward gate seven of eight and, while he over-raced early, Lloyd was able to restrain him and slide to the fence as the field quickly split into two packs.
Guest House pushed up to sit behind odds-on favourite Blue Door (Stay Inside) who set a heady pace under Tommy Berry, and for a time in the straight the colt looked in danger of not gaining a rails run.
But once Blue Door drifted only slightly off the fence, Guest House again showed what a racehorse he is by powering through the gap and coming away to score imperiously by 1.3 lengths, defying the betting drift which led to him starting $7 third favourite.
Blue Door held second at $1.95, 0.9 lengths ahead of Slipper third placegetter Music Time (All Too Hard) at $12. The highly rated Warwoven (Sword Of State) made only a little ground from the rear to finish fifth on his resumption at $7.50.
“Amazing, wasn't it?” said Price, who trains Guest House in partnership with Michael Kent Jr.
“As I said in an interview, the people make up their own mind, the horse will write his own story and it was just an amazing win.
“He's a very good horse. You might even think he's improved from his Slipper to come out here over 1100 metres and do what he did, and he had to race so genuinely; Blue Door was holding the fence."
“He [Lloyd] was on the right horse and if you've got the right motor and the right horse, it's a lot easier than if you're not on the bridle.
“But geez, he's a good colt.”
“He's a very good horse. You might even think he's improved from his Slipper to come out here over 1100 metres and do what he did
Price confirmed an Everest tilt, saying he wanted Guest House “in the zone for the three races that make his colt career” – the Golden Rose, The Everest and the Coolmore.
“They're the three races where, once I can get him in that zone, just leave him alone a little bit,” the Cranbourne trainer said.
“I thought 1100 metres was a little bit short for him, first off, but that's just how good he is.”
Price has no doubts Guest House could cope with the 1400 metres of the Golden Rose, and possibly a 1600-metre Guineas trip as well.
“You know what, if someone said to me, can you win the Caulfield Guineas with this, it could happen, but you can't do everything,” Price said. “He's just a gun colt, and I'm very happy that Coolmore have backed him. He's just fantastic.”
Lloyd said Guest House had returned a better horse.
“His trials have been really good. I must say, I think everyone's a little surprised how good that really was because we all thought he was [still] progressing,” the young jockey said.
“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. But yeah, good to have him back.
“I knew at the 400, the way he was coping with that speed, he was just ready to go. And I needed a run, but I knew I had a very good horse underneath me, so I wasn't rushing. Tommy [Berry] gave him enough room, and those horses, you give them a message, they're straight in there.
“So, fantastic, and he's actually done that quite comfortably. A perfect first-time run for him.”
Bred by Love Racing PL, Henderson Racing and Breeding and G1g Racing and Breeding, Guest House was bought from Newgate’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $270,000 by Price, Tim Rogers Bloodstock and the Roll The Dice Racing group, whose familiar colours he still bears, despite Coolmore's buy-in.
He’s the sixth foal of Flamboyant Lass – a daughter of another Slipper winner in Stratum (Redoute’s Choice) – who was trained by Gai Waterhouse for two wins and two stakes placings, and has also borne a Melbourne two-year-old stakes placegetter in Nitrous (Deep Field).
Flamboyant Lass – bought by Coolmore at this year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $800,000 in foal to the stud’s stallion Storm Boy (Justify) – now has a two-year-old filly by Slipper winner Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) who didn’t go to public auction, and she missed to the same stallion in 2025.
She’s now overdue to throw her Justify foal.
Coolmore’s Champion first-season sire Home Affairs has five stakes winners from 61 runners at 8.2 per cent, with his service fee leaping this year from $82,500 to $176,000 (inc GST).
Smithfield RSL San Domenico Stakes (GR 3)
Show
Smithfield RSL San Domenico Stakes (GR 3)
$250,000, Rosehill, 3yo, 1100m, Good(4)
-
Guest House (AUS) 3 b C 58kg
Home Affairs (AUS) - Flamboyant Lass (AUS), by Stratum (AUS)
2nd Dam: Flamboyance (AUS), by Snowland (AUS)
3rd Dam: Vain Deb (AUS), by Vain (AUS)
B: Love Racing Pty Ltd VIC T: M Price & M Kent Jnr J: Zac Lloyd
$270,000, Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale 2025
V: Newgate Farm
P: Mick Price Racing & Breeding/Roll The Dice Racing/
-
Blue Door (AUS) 3 b F 55kg
Stay Inside (AUS) - Notting Hill (AUS), by Pierro (AUS)
B: Armitage Australia Llc NSW T: Bjorn Baker J: Tommy Berry
-
Music Time (AUS) 3 b G 57kg
All Too Hard (AUS) - Miss Eisenstadt (AUS), by Manhattan Rain (AUS)
B: Mr GJ Perry NSW T: G P Vella J: K Mc Evoy
Margins: 1.3 lens, 0.9 lens. Time: 1:02.40 (last 600m 33.36)
Betting: $7.00, $1.90, $12.00
Then followed: Half Pipe (AUS), Warwoven (AUS), Berzelius (AUS), Revengeance (AUS), Wild Atlantic (AUS), last.
1st dam: Flamboyant Lass, by Stratum. 2 wins-1 at 2-at 1000m, A$191,175, ATC Hyland Race Colours 2YO H., Schweppes H., 2d ATC Reginald Allen H., L, Schweppes H., 3d MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (f), Gr.2, ATC TAB Betting Season 2YO P. Dam of-2017 Nitrous - Circuit Seven (H.K.) (g by Deep Field). 6 wins-2 at 2-at 1000m, A$147,600, HK$4,555,470, ATC Hyland Boxing Day Sale 2YO H., HKJC Hatton H., Oi Tung H., Street Cat H., Hong Kong Football Club Centenary Cup, 2d VRC Talindert S., L, HKJC Sha Lo Wan H., Mount Nicholson H., Kwangtung Cup, Lam Tin H., Lin Fa Shan H., 3d HKJC Longines International Jockeys H., 4th ATC Canonbury S., Gr.3.
2019 g. Command Approved, by Spirit of Boom. 6 wins-1 at 2-to 1300m, A$200,065,
to 2025-26, ATC Yes Yes Yes First Yearlings H., 3d ATC Schweppes 2YO H., James Squire H., MVRC
Happy Birthday John Dickson H., 4th Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic,
RL.
2020 f. Lovebird, by I Am Invincible. Winner at 1000m
in Aust.
2021 g. Pierant, by Pierro. Winner at 1550m in 2025-26 in
Aust.
2022 g. Gambler, by Capitalist. 2 wins-1 at 2-at 1000m, A$104,325,
to 2025-26, 3d ATC Hyland Race Colours H.2023 GUEST HOUSE (c by Home Affairs).
3 wins-2 at 2-to 1200m, A$3,416,770, to 2026-27, ATC Golden Slipper S.,
Gr.1, San Domenico S., Gr.3, MVRC Clamms Seafood 2YO H., 2d
MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g), Gr.3, 3d MRC Blue Diamond S.,
Gr.1.
2024 f. by Stay Inside.
World stage beckons for brilliant Beiwacht
Outstanding Godolphin stallion Beiwacht (Bivouac) may be steered towards international targets after making a sensational return to score his third elite triumph in Saturday’s Memsie Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Caulfield.
Previously winning last spring’s Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m) and the autumn’s All Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at three, the Chris Waller-trained galloper made it a top-tier treble over the trip with a dominant display in Melbourne’s weight-for-age first Group 1 of the season.
Ridden by Nash Rawiller, the slightly easy $6 third favourite crossed to the front from barrier seven of 12, and travelled powerfully throughout. On straightening he powered away from the field under hands-and-heels riding to put the race to bed by the 200-metre mark, and he eventually scored by three lengths.
The seemingly ageless Mr Brightside (Bullbars) resumed as a nine-year-old at $21 and sat second all the way, while $3.30 favourite Cosmic Crusader (Maurice) made ground from the rear to finish 0.4 lengths away in third while chasing a winning hat-trick.
Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) was a close-up fourth in a decent return as a five-year-old mare, at $10, whereas $3.80 second elect Jimmysstar (Per Incanto) looked disappointing first-up in ninth.
With Beiwacht’s stallion credentials well and truly sealed for his breeders Darley, Waller indicated a campaign abroad could be in his future.
There may be doubt, however, that such plans would include Royal Ascot, with the trainer conceding Beiwacht might not be at his best over a straight course. While he ran a fair fourth up the Flemington straight in last spring’s Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), he was last of eight on the same straight track in the autumn’s Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m).
“We said last year we were keen to take him internationally, but he’s not a real straight horse,” Waller said. “He was out of his comfort zone in the Lightning and it dented our confidence a little bit. He’s a specialist 1400-metre type horse, so there are some international thoughts there.
“He’s done a great job. He beat the older horses in the All-Aged and it was a great ride by Nash today and to see him come back, it was a terrific win.”
He added: “We’ll find something. I’ll talk to the Godolphin team and I’m sure there will be some good races in store for him.”
Beiwacht was scratched from last Saturday’s Winx Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick after a temperature spike, but Waller said he’d quickly recovered – as evidenced by the strength of his Memsie win.
“We didn’t panic. It came up enough to say he didn’t need to leave the stable [on Saturday] and remarkably his blood on Monday was perfect,” said Waller, celebrating his 204th Group 1 success.
“We galloped him at Rosehill on Tuesday. He was fine on Wednesday and everything has been good since. So whatever it was, it didn’t last long.”
The master trainer added Beiwacht had “really fitted well into our system” since arriving in mid 2025 as Godolphin switched to a public training model.
“Saddling him up before the race, he was a delight to work with. He was really focused. It sounds like I’m talking about a person, but he was really in the zone and just concentrating on his racing,” said Waller, who’s won the first two elite events of the season, with Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) taking the Winx.
“He's always been a lovely colt but he just went to a new level today. There's no doubt about that
Rawiller has stuck to Beiwacht like glue since first partnering him in a Canterbury barrier trial win on April 10, scoring on him in the All Aged eight days later, then riding him in the two trials which opened this campaign.
“What a thrill,” he said after his 73rd Group 1 success.
“I just prayed all week that he'd come out and do something like that, but it's like a dream come true when he has.
“He's always been a lovely colt but he just went to a new level today. There's no doubt about that.
“He's always had a good attitude. He's always just had that raw, high cruising speed. He's just matured and God that was a special feeling the whole way up the straight. He just had them cold. It was exciting.”
Beiwacht is the seventh foal of Metastasio (Street Cry), who’s thrown another stakes winner in Gravina (Sebring), winner of the MRC Village Stakes (Listed, 1200m).
Metastasio now has a two-year-old filly by Microphone (Exceed And Excel), and after missing to Benbatl (Dubawi) in 2024, was covered again by Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) last October.
Bivouac, who won two 1200-metre Group 1s up the Flemington straight, has eight stakes winners worldwide from 138 runners at 5.8 per cent. The ten-year-old stands at Darley Kelvinside this year for $33,000 (inc. GST), down from $55,000.
Jockey Craig Williams said Mr Brightside – who won the Memsie in 2023 and has now finished second in its past three editions – appeared set for a highly competitive spring despite his age.
“He’s an amazing horse,” he said. “He’s now run second in this race again, and what I really liked about his performance today, I thought the last part of the straight was better than the first part of the straight, so I think he’s only going to improve off today’s run.”
Stow Storage Memsie Stakes (GR 1)
Show
Stow Storage Memsie Stakes (GR 1)
$750,000, Caulfield, 3yo+, 1400m, Soft(6)
-
Beiwacht (AUS) 4 b H 58kg
Bivouac (AUS) - Metastasio (AUS), by Street Cry (IRE)
2nd Dam: Libretto (IRE), by Singspiel (IRE)
3rd Dam: Truly Special (IRE), by Caerleon (USA)
B: Godolphin Australia NSW T: C J Waller J: N Rawiller -
Mr Brightside (NZ) 9 br G 59kg
Bullbars (AUS) - Lilahjay (NZ), by Tavistock (NZ)
B: R I & Est late M A G Johnson, Waikato, NZ T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes J: Craig Williams
-
Cosmic Crusader (NZ) 6 b G 59kg
Maurice (JPN) - Cosmic Storm (AUS), by Street Sense (USA)
B: Peters Investments Pty Ltd, Waikato, NZ T: Andrea Leek J: W Pike
Margins: 3 lens, 0.4 lens. Time: 1:23.81 (last 600m)
Betting: $6.00, $21.00, $3.30
Then followed: Treasurethe Moment (AUS), Buckaroo (GB), Birdman (IRE), Planet Red (AUS), Autumn Boy (AUS), Jimmysstar (NZ), Angel Capital (AUS), Tom Kitten (AUS), Sabaj (AUS), last.
1st dam: METASTASIO, by Street Cry. 2 wins at 2, A$195,700, MRC Chairman's S., L, VRC Nursery P., 2d MRC Quezette S., Gr.3, MVRC Aquanas Foods H., 4th MRC Twilight Glow S., L. Dam of-
2015 f. La Romanina, by Exceed and Excel. Placed in Aust. Dam of-Immortal Storm.
2 wins at 800m, 1000m in 2025-26 in Aust.Blue Roman. Winner at
1000m in 2025-26 in Aust.Romi. Winner at 1000m in Aust.
2016 g. Trapassi,
by Exceed and Excel. 4 wins to 1300m in Aust.2017 GRAVINA (g
by Sebring). 5 wins-1 at 2-at 1200m, A$939,500, MRC Village S.,
L, ATC Garvan Institute Sprint H., Wilson Asset Management H., 50 Year and Life
Members H., Agency Real Estate 2YO H., 2d ATC Liverpool City Cup, Gr.3, Ipswich
TC Eye Liner S., L, Scone RC Luskin Star H., L, ATC TAB H.,
Cleanaway H., Murrumbidgee TC Wagga Town P., Newcastle JC Hunter Valley Premium Meats H., 3d ATC
Southern Cross S., Gr.3, Maurice McCarten H., Gr.3, Scone RC
Luskin Star S., L, ATC Harrolds Victory Vein 2YO P., Newcastle JC Hunter H.,
ATC Congratulations Chris Waller H., Precise Air H., Southern Cross Group H., Heineken H.,
Murrumbidgee TC Wagga Town P., 4th ATC Star Kingdom H., Gr.3, MRC Testa Rossa
S., L, Canberra RC National Sprint, L.
2018 f. Song
Writer, by Medaglia d'Oro. Raced twice.
2020 f. Rhapzodise, by Ribchester.
Winner at 1100m in Aust.
2021 g. Freezing, by Frosted. Raced once.2022
BEIWACHT (c by Bivouac). 4 wins-1 at 2-at 1100m, 1400m,
A$2,521,975, to 2026-27, ATC All Aged S., Gr.1, Golden Rose,
Gr.1, 1400m-in track record time, MRC Memsie S., Gr.1, ATC
Silver Slipper S., Gr.2, 2d ATC Canterbury S., Gr.1, Run to
the Rose, Gr.2, Lonhro P., L, 3d ATC San Domenico S.,
Gr.3, 4th VRC Coolmore Stud S., Gr.1.
2023 f. Cafe Reine,
by Bivouac. Unraced.
2024 f. by Microphone.
American Eagle soars into Group 1 calculations
The Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) or the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) lie in prospect for American Eagle (Too Darn Hot) after the colt became his surging sire’s latest Australian black type winner on Saturday.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt went into Saturday’s McNeil Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) for three-year-olds at Caulfield six weeks after making a winning debut for the MyRacehorse syndicate.
While that 0.8-length victory came in a modest midweek Sandown two-year-old handicap on a heavy 9, punters saw enough to make him a heavily backed $3.20 favourite for his rise to Group company at start two in the McNeil.
And the near black colt didn’t disappoint.
Jumping from gate one of ten for Mark Zahra, American Eagle settled behind the leader under an even tempo. Once a gap appeared on straightening, the colt drove through it to take what became a decisive lead.
While he was tiring late on a soft 6 track, he held on by 0.2 lengths from the fast-finishing Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Unit Five (Supido), the $5.50 second favourite.
Another Ciaron Maher-trained colt, Seraphox (Harry Angel) took third at $17 for his second straight stakes placing at start number four.
American Eagle is now on the fifth line of betting at $11 for the Coolmore at Flemington on October 31, but is an $8 second favourite for the Caulfield Guineas on October 10, behind $4.50 chance Tron Bolt (Toronado).
Sam Freedman said the colt’s spring targets were still to be decided, adding another possibility was Rosehill’s Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m) on September 26, for which he’s at $26.
“Our plan was always to go to the Guineas Prelude, but he's pretty brilliant,” he said.
“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 let the dust settle 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 we still want to tick a box on firm ground, but he's progressive.
“He took up a spot, he settled well. He's got a great brain on him.
“He'll give himself a chance to run a mile if we want to go that way. I thought he was knocking up probably the last 50 metres today. He was probably just ready for the six [furlongs].
“So whether we push on, a Prelude, and then whether you pivot and go to the Guineas or whether you freshen and go to the Coolmore.”
Asked whether a Sydney mission was an option, Freedman said: “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 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.”
Freedman said American Eagle had always impressed in the stable.
“It's the time of year that you're hoping to have horses like these, particularly colts going to these sorts of races,” he said.
“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.”
Zahra was hugely impressed after partnering American Eagle for the first time.
“He’s a very nice horse,” he said. “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 [Unit Five] came to me. There’s a heap of improvement to come. He’s got a very bright spring ahead of him.”
Asked if American Eagle would see out the 1600 metres of the Guineas, Zahra said: “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.”
Bred by Yulong, American Eagle is the third foal of Awake The Stars (Redoute’s Choice), a six-time winning daughter of New Zealand Group 2 victor My Chicharita (Towkay).
Awake The Stars now has a two-year-old colt by Yulong’s Grunt (O’Reilly) who hasn’t gone to public auction, and was covered last spring by Widden Victoria’s King Colorado (Kingman).
American Eagle became the 17th Australian black type winner for Darley’s shuttling sensation Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) from 177 runners, at 9.6 per cent – easily bettering his global mark of 6.7 per cent.
The ten-year-old stands at Darley Kelvinside this spring for Australia’s equal second-highest service fee of $275,000 (inc GST), unchanged from last year.
Ive > McNeil Stakes (GR 3)
Show
Ive > McNeil Stakes (GR 3)
$200,000, Caulfield, 3yo, 1200m, Soft(6)
-
American Eagle (AUS) 3 br/bl C 57kg
Too Darn Hot (GB) - Awake the Stars (AUS), by Redoute's Choice (AUS)
2nd Dam: My Chicharita (NZ), by Towkay (AUS)
3rd Dam: Trisynd (NZ), by Sir Tristram (IRE)
B: Yulong Investments Yulong Stud VIC T: A & S Freedman J: M Zahra
$400,000, Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale 2025
V: Yulong
P: MyRacehorse/Anthony Freedman Racing/Julian Blaxlan
-
Unit Five (AUS) 3 b C 58kg
Supido (AUS) - En Aval (AUS), by Toorak Toff (AUS)
B: Mr L Attwood NSW T: C Maher J: Thomas Stockdale
-
Seraphox (AUS) 3 ch C 57kg
Harry Angel (IRE) - Foxy Touch (AUS), by Foxwedge (AUS)
B: Miss M Jeffcoat NSW T: C Maher J: Ethan Brown
Margins: 0.2 lens, 2.5 lens. Time: 1:11.87 (last 600m)
Betting: $3.30, $5.50, $17.00
Then followed: Phillip Island (AUS), Confederation (AUS), Rich on Bubbles (AUS), Autumn Lover (AUS), Obambulate (AUS), Aethera (AUS), Seize the Day (AUS), last.
1st dam: AWAKE THE STARS, by Redoute's Choice. 6 wins at 1300m, 1400m, A$166,010, GCTC Washpool Lodge H., 2d BRC Valmont Coatings H., Rawgroup Hospitality H., 3d BRC Q Reno H. Dam of-2020 Stardealt (g by Dundeel). Winner at 1600m, 3d TRC Tasmanian Derby, L, SAJC Ponting Wines H.
2021 g. Aligning Stars - Win Beauty Viva (H.K.), by Pierata. 2 wins at 1600m,
1650m, A$34,125, HK$3,119,500, to 2025-26 in Aust. and HK, HKJC Snapdragon H., 2d HKJC Rhine
H.2023 AMERICAN EAGLE (c by Too Darn Hot). 2 wins-1 at 2-at
1200m, A$159,750, to 2026-27, MRC HDF McNeil S., Gr.3, Sportsbet 2YO H.
2024
c. by Grunt.
Oliveanotherday takes another step towards the top
Warrnambool-trained four-year-old Oliveanotherday (Nicconi) confirmed himself a potential sprinting star of the spring when claiming his fifth straight victory in The Heath (Gr 3, 1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Having risen to black type grade in his home town’s Wangoom Stakes (Listed, 1200m) to round off his last campaign, the Tom Dabernig-trained Oliveanotherday progressed to Group company for his resumption and took it in his impressive stride.
Ridden by Harry Coffey and backed into $2.30 favouritism, the gelding tracked the leader – the $3.70 second elect Bridal Waltz (Snitzel) – throughout from gate one of eight.
Bridal Waltz attempted to steal a winning break by the 200 metres, but once a gap appeared for Oliveanotherday behind her, the favourite jumped into the lead with disarming ease in a couple of bounds, powering away to score by 1.5 lengths.
Bridal Waltz finished 1.3 lengths ahead of the third-placed War Machine (Harry Angel) at $6 in a market-order trifecta.
Dabernig, enjoying a strong run of success of late with other stakes-winning sprinters in Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) and Shadhavar (Pride Of Dubai), said Oliveanotherday – who’s won six from eight overall – appeared an exceptional speedster who could be in for a glorious spring, with Group 1 targets on his horizon.
"You don't get your hands on these horses very often,” said Dabernig, who has gradually built up his stable since ending his days as a co-trainer at Lindsay Park in 2021, with 85 named horses now on his books.
“We were a bit concerned about barrier one and I was mindful, talking to Harry Coffey during the week, of not wanting to chase the speed and hold a position and give him too hard a run.
“Turning for home when he was held up, we were all a bit tense. He's a horse that can quicken and get himself out of trouble in two or three strides and when he hit the front, I saw that Harry didn't have to use the whip all that much and was hands-and-heels, and he won nicely.
"It's a great way to kick the preparation off and hopefully he can continue into the spring and take those next steps.”
Dabernig said he hoped Oliveanotherday could progress to the top tier this spring, with the Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) on September 27 at Caulfield a possible destination.
Bookmakers wound him in to clear favouritism for that $2 million Saturday night feature at $3.50, ahead of $6 equal second favourites Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) and Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain).
“He does everything so easy. When he was going through the grades he was winning his races by good margins and in good times,” the trainer said.
“I understand as we get deeper into the spring, it gets tougher, but now he's a lovely sound horse and the sky's the limit.
“The ultimate goal is to try and get him to a Group 1 in best possible shape and we might look at the Bobbie Lewis [on September 12] to give him a look at the straight at Flemington, which might open up an option for Cup week.
"The goal at the moment would probably be the Manikato. He's a very good Caulfield horse.”
Coffey, who’s partnered the son of Nicconi (Bianconi) in his past three starts, was hugely impressed with his victory in a race in which the past three winners include subsequent Group 1 victors Asfoora (Flying Artie) and Tropicus (Too Darn Hot).
“Credit to Tom,” Coffey said. “He wanted me to ride him in a relaxed manner and not panic. He said, ‘If the gaps come, he’ll get you out of trouble’ and he was certainly right because the horse was superb today.
“We found ourselves in a bit of trouble but I was following the right horse. When you’re riding a good horse and you’ve drawn barrier one, they know where you are, so I had to bide my time. One of his biggest assets is that at the 600, he grabs the bridle and wants to break them up of his own accord. He tried to do that but you can’t when you’re following them, so he got awkwardly placed on heels a couple of times.
“It was an unusual feeling swinging off a horse’s head trying to stop them at that part of the race, but when the gap came he quickened into it well.
“I’m really pleased with him. Geez he’s a lovely horse. He used to be a little bit fiery but this time around he’s matured. You’ve got to do that when you go to better races and so far he’s aiming up like he’ll be able to.”
A homebred for co-owner Andrew Harrison, Oliveanotherday is the first foal of Olive (All Too Hard), a city-placed half-sister to Group 3 winner Stirling Grove (Mossman) out of the Listed-winning mare Kalamata (Desert Prince).
Olive now has a two-year-old filly by Foxwedge (Fastnet Rock) and was covered by Nicconi again last spring.
Nicconi – famed as the sire of super sprinter Nature Strip among his two elite victors – has 31 stakes winners from 967 runners worldwide at 3.21 per cent.
The 21-year-old covered 51 mares at Widden Victoria last spring and stands there again this year for an unchanged $13,200 (inc. GST).
The Quayclean Heath (GR 3)
Show
The Quayclean Heath (GR 3)
$200,000, Caulfield, 4yo+, 1100m, Soft(6)
-
Oliveanotherday (AUS) 4 b G 58kg
Nicconi (AUS) - Olive (AUS), by All Too Hard (AUS)
2nd Dam: Kalamata (AUS), by Desert Prince (IRE)
3rd Dam: Kirtlington (AUS), by Scenic (IRE)
B: Spring B Estate Pty Ltd VIC T: Tom Dabernig J: H Coffey -
Bridal Waltz (AUS) 5 b M 55kg
Snitzel (AUS) - Charleston Dancer (AUS), by Lonhro (AUS)
B: O E & D R Pope Pty Ltd VIC T: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman J: B Melham
-
War Machine (NZ) 6 b G 59kg
Harry Angel (IRE) - Caserta (AUS), by Hussonet (USA)
B: MDJ Bloodstock Ltd, Central, NZ T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes J: M Zahra
Margins: 1.5 lens, 1.3 lens. Time: 1:03.81 (last 600m)
Betting: $2.30, $3.80, $6.00
Then followed: Inkaruna (AUS), Harry's Yacht (AUS), De Bergerac (AUS), Recommendation (AUS), Don't Hope Do (AUS), last.
1st dam: OLIVE, by All Too Hard. Placed, 2d MVRC Strathmore Bendigo Bank P. Dam of-2022 OLIVEANOTHERDAY (g by Nicconi). 6 wins to 1200m, A$408,360, to 2026-27, MRC Heath S., Gr.3, Warrnambool RC Wangoom H., L, MRC GMH Fire & Safety H., Stow Storage Solutions H.
2023 f. by Nicconi.
2024 f. by Foxwedge.
