Craig Kerry
Mick Price refers to The Everest (1200m) as the “Ka Ying” Stakes, when the $20 million showpiece is mentioned, but the Victorian trainer is not shying away from the challenge of taking on the Hong Kong superstar with what he hopes will be a group 1 double act this weekend.
Price and co-trainer Michael Kent jnr look set to have $30 million Coolmore buy Guest House in the stud’s Everest slot on October 17, provided the Golden Slipper winner fires again on Saturday in the group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill.
The three-year-old Home Affairs colt was at his brutal best first-up in the San Domenico Stakes four weeks ago, breaking the 1100m track record with a bold rails run under Zac Lloyd. He was $2.50 (TAB) favourite for the Golden Rose and on the third line of betting for the Everest at $11, behind defending champion Ka Ying Rising ($1.35) and likely Godolphin pick Tempted ($8).
“It’s three weeks between the race on Saturday and the Everest, and that’s beautiful,” Price said.
“It’s a good formula, Yes Yes Yes did it.”
Yes Yes Yes was second to Bivouac in the Golden Rose before becoming the first three-year-old Everest winner in 2019.
While Guest House is close to a certainty for the October 17 race at Randwick, Price and Kent could have another contender for a slot, if Charm Stone goes back to back in the group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Sunday.
The mare, now six, claimed the race at Moonee Valley last year from a nice draw to attract Everest interest, only for connections to go down a different path.
She will race first-up on Saturday after time out following throat surgery and Price said she “was going super”. His only concern on Sunday for the $19 chance was a draw in 11 of 13.
“What happens if she does win, is there a slot there?” he said of the Everest, which has only Ninja and Headwall so far confirmed to take on Ka Ying Rising in the 12-horse sprint at Randwick.
“I ran her in the Sangster [Stakes], and on the Tuesday before we ran her, she had an entrapped epiglottis in her throat.
“She’s got beat a head, and since then I’ve had that fixed and she’s brilliant.”
Price was confident, too, about the condition of Guest House, after he skipped the Run To The Rose (1200m).
“I’m happy with the four weeks between runs because he got to be jarry after the San Domenico,” he said.
“His 1000-metre gallop on Tuesday was good, Saturday was good, so very happy.
“It was four weeks into the Slipper and this is four weeks, but that information hasn’t all of a sudden come up upon me, so I’ve been able to train for it.
“My feel then was that if he had a balanced up, went home and ran in the first three first up, I’d be happy, but he obviously did what he did. I thought, well, that’s him. Race day, he’s probably a bit fitter and better than sometimes I think he is.
“But he’s there to win. He’s had a good prep. I’ve got no excuses with him.
“He was 567 kilos into the Slipper, so he was trained up. Run No.4 for a baby. He’s 580kg now, and there’s not an ounce of fat on him.”
Price’s only concern was how the strong-running colt handles the 1400m tempo.
“I’ve drawn well [in five] and I think the race will work out OK with Plagiarism there going forward, but the 1400-metres tempo is a new tempo for that horse,” he said.
“I don’t have any preconceived instructions to tell our man, Zac, but I just say if you ride your horse with a bit of feel, which he does, then go out there with an open mind because at 1400, you would think they will sit up at some point … in a 1400-metre tempo, when they drop anchor, I’m hoping he’s OK with it.
“Everyone’s of the opinion that he needs high pressure in running, but I think he’ll get 1400. And I think if the race works out good for him, he’s a strong winning chance, especially at set weights.”
Price won the 2022 Golden Rose with Jacquinot, which finished fifth on a soft track in the Everest.
“Jacquinot won because he was a tough horse and was well-ridden on the day. This horse will win more on ability,” he said.
“It’s got very good ability and I think the thing leading into the Blue Diamond, and before we came to Sydney, he was sort of learning. His brain wasn’t very professional as a baby, even though he won at Cranbourne, but then something went wrong and something went wrong in running, but he’s pretty much got it right now.
“And I think Zac rides him confidently, so I’d be surprised if he wasn’t on the bridle in running, and hopefully there’s a bit of pace on.”
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