Reserve Bank back after layoff as Price expresses caution

Mick Price, with over three decades of training experience, has only dealt with one other case like the issue that has sidelined Reserve Bank from tracks for close to a year.

Having claimed The Goodwood, the horse is poised to return in Saturday's Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill, re-entering the stable for spring prep amid staff concerns over his actions.

"I walked in at four o'clock one morning and the girls said, 'come and have a look at this'," Price said.

"He was absolutely shaking life a leaf on the spot, which was really unusual.

"We couldn't work it out initially. We thought it might have been a vertebrae problem, but it turned out to be Ross River virus based on his blood picture."

Ross River virus, a mosquito-borne ailment typically affecting people, strikes horses as well, leading to fever, joint inflammation, and listlessness.

The trainer has seen it once before in his yard, explaining that the previous sufferer never recaptured top form, unlike Reserve Bank whose progress shows strong promise.

"It was a horse called Blazing Harry. He came back and he did not race well, and he didn't look to bloom," Price said.

"I don't have much experience or knowledge with it. I don't know what to expect. But Blazing Harry, he didn't have a lot of life looking at him, and this horse looks beautiful.

"I think he just needs racing."

A four-year-old runner, Reserve Bank notched a trio of stakes victories through autumn, finishing with the Goodwood success.

Despite strong performances when fresh, Price foresees Saturday's run as a fitness booster and questions the suitability of barrier two.

"The horse is going super, but I can't picture how he wins a The Galaxy from that inside gate, first-up after a long time," he said.

"He's a four-year-old bull. I'm just looking for him to run well and please, and then I'll work out a program."

"He just needs to go to the races to bring him on."

Reserve Bank gets Damian Lane in the saddle and sits at $8.50 in an evenly matched betting field.

Check the online bookmakers for betting markets for the race in The Galaxy.