Racing
Guest House wins with Blue Diamond aim
Two-year-old does enough to win on debut with greater goals to come.
Having to wait another week was not ideal as far as Mick Price is concerned but the result was at least worth it as the highly anticipated debut of Guest House was a successful one at Cranbourne.
Scratched from the Magic Millions VIC 2yo Classic (1100m) at Caulfield Heath last Saturday, son of hot stallion Home Affairs overcame early race challenges to win the Clamms Seafood Handicap (1000m) with the $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield the ultimate aim.
Despite the event being a second option, the first prize was significant enough to set the colt up well towards Victoria's blue riband for juveniles.
"Job done today and the $82,500 goes towards the autumn," Price said.
"The first project will be the 1200-metres of the Blue Diamond. We have to find the right way to get him there but he'll have a little breather now.
"He's got some areas of improvement and 1000-metres around here was not ideal."
Guest House ($1.85F) looked to be problematic for Jamie Melham soon after jumping from barrier three but clicked into racehorse mode on the home turn.
"I was hoping Jamie could get off heels and she was able to," Price added.
"He's got an explosive nature about him and he doesn't quite understand his gears. He won under a bit of difficult when he wanted to overrace and handle the tight track here."
A $270,000 purchase from the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Guest House won by ¾-length with the trifecta filled by other debutants Resolutely ($5.50) and Leopard Shark ($15) 1¼-lengths away in third.
"He's definitely not the furnished product yet," Melham said.
"I'd love to see him next prep. He didn't handle the turn very well and did a lot wrong but he had a good enough time out there without doing a lot right."
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