From the time Reserve Bank finished his spring campaign, trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have had their eyes on a rich three-year-old sprint at Flemington.
That race will be run on Saturday when Reserve Bank, and stablemate, Hot Digity Boom contest the $1 million Inglis Sprint (1200m).
Kent Jnr said Reserve Bank had been aimed specifically at the race after closing off his spring campaign on a wet track at Caulfield in October.
“He’s a really nice horse that was beaten a nostril in the Group 2 at Flemington and had one more start before a spell and he’s come back a better horse,” Kent Jnr said.
“When you want to win a nice race first-up, it’s very important everything goes right during the campaign, and that’s exactly how it’s gone.
“He’s had a beautiful preparation. He’s got a beautiful temperament, his trial was sharp.
“I think he’s drawn well in the far outside barrier down the straight as he’s got a big galloping action, so hopefully he can use that properly and is a live hope in a big race.”
Reserve Bank has had two jump-outs at Cranbourne to prepare for Saturday’s return.
He chased home last week’s Caulfield winner Samangu in his first on February 10 and then won his most recent over 800m on February 17.
Kent Jnr said after Saturday Reserve Bank was likely to head to Stakes company and hopefully a victory to secure a potential future as a sire.
“He’s still an entire and you have to dream big,” Kent Jnr said.
“We think a lot of him and I’m sure we’ll learn more about him on Saturday and if he does the right things, we’ll be aiming up with him.”
Price and Kent Jnr will feel some extra pressure with Hot Digity Boom who will chase a $200,000 bonus being owned by and ‘all girls’ syndicate that includes Price’s daughters.
“I think there are either five or six Ladies horses eligible and the first one past the post earns $200,000, so we might run tenth and still make $200,000 which is a fantastic initiative,” Kent Jnr said.
“Things were against him first-up. He was in no-man’s land on the inside of the pack, and it was a funny race.
“He pulled-up with a slight foot issue. We feel he’s going well into this race, but again he’s drawn down near the inside.
“He’s got a big finishing burst on him, and it would not surprise to see him run well.”
Their task was made slightly easier after Chris Waller made the decision to give the favourite Gratsby’s a jump-out over 800m on Friday morning in which he finished third behind Joliestar and Traffic Warden.
Waller said Gratsby’s would bypass Saturday’s race in favour of the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8.
“It’s a shame as it looked a nice race, but he’s a colt and we would like to get him into the Newmarket,” Waller said.
“If he could slip in with a lightweight, he’s a pretty handy horse.”
