Reserve Bank gives Jamie Melham back-to-back wins in G1 The Goodwood

After being described as a work in progress, Reserve Bank delivered on his promise in spectacular fashion by winning the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville, becoming a valuable colt for future stud duties.

Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the son of Capitalist surged home late to score by 1-¼ lengths, giving jockey Jamie Melham her second consecutive win in the prestigious sprint and adding another top-tier success to Price’s resume.

“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 of the colt’s quirky pre-race antics.

“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.”

Sent out at $5.50, Reserve Bank settled back and powered through the field in the straight, getting the better of Sir Sway ($61), while the $2.10 betting favourite Giga Kick had to settle for third after a tight finish.

“He’s a Group 1 winner now as a colt,” Price said. “A beautiful, sound, big, strong, nice colt.”

“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.”

“Thankfully they ran along, and he was allowed to use his big stride late and he took off.”

Melham, who began her riding journey in South Australia and completed her apprenticeship with Price, was proud to get her first Group 1 winner for the stable and even more so to do it at home.

“He reared at the start and nothing really went right early,” she said. “But I got a beautiful run in the end.”

“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.”

With the spring approaching, Reserve Bank could be a major player in Group 1 features. For early markets and bonus offers from Australia’s leading bookmakers, head to our complete betting sites list.