Reserve Bank may have tested the patience of his trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, but the colt is now a valuable stud prospect after his win The Goodwood at Morphettville.
The son of Capitalist provided Price his fourth win in the 1200m Group 1 sprint when successful on Saturday while also giving jockey Jamie Melham back-to-back wins after guiding Benedetta home 12 months ago.
Price said Reserve Bank had proved a handful for his handler Matthew Chadwick, formerly apprenticed to the trainers at Cranbourne, before making the move to Adelaide.
“He’s actually got a good temperament and a good brain, but he comes to the races and Matthew Chadwick has been wrestling him for three hours,” Price said.
“He had a ride and ran second earlier in the day, and I said, ‘You sure you’re up to this?’, but he never left him alone.
“He’s done a great job here with him.
“He’s a typical colt. He’s full of himself and he’s a lad, the big alpha male colt.”
Settling back in the field, Melham rode for luck before Reserve Bank ($5.50) went on to score a 1-¼ length win from Sir Sway ($61) with the $2.10 betting site favourite Giga Kick a nose away third.
“He’s a Group 1 winner now as a colt,” Price said.
“A beautiful, sound, big, strong, nice colt. I was a bit concerned in the run where he was.
“I did say to Jamie, he’s a nice flow-along sort of horse. He doesn’t like the mixed messages and don’t drag him back.
“I’m sure he was out the back, but thankfully they ran along, and he was allowed to use his big stride late and he took off.”
Originally starting her career in Adelaide, Melham went on loan to Price during her apprenticeship before returning to Adelaide.
Since setting up base back in Melbourne, Melham now has 17 Group 1 wins to her credit, but Saturday’s victory was her first at the highest level for Price.
“She was apprenticed to me a long time ago when she came to Victoria,” Price said.
“She actually said, ‘that bloke hindered my career’ as I don’t think I put her on enough.”
Melham said it was special to record back-to-back victories in The Goodwood.
She said nothing went to plan after Reserve Bank reared at the start.
“But I got a beautiful run in the end,” Melham said.
“Giga Kick was on our outside, and I thought if I drag back now and get on his backside, he’s going to be too sharp, so we just rode for luck.
“The gaps came, and I was just a passenger.
“It’s a very special race to win, and there’s nothing like winning a race back home in Adelaide in front of my aunties, Auntie Jan, and the family are here.
“It’s special, very special.”
