Talented Capitalist colt Reserve Bank has turned a corner since going to Adelaide, reeling off his third successive win at Morphettville on Saturday to capture the $1million SAJC The Goodwood (1200m).
Sixth to Schwarz in the Group I MVRC William Reid Stakes on March 22, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr trained colt has been given the chance to get his confidence in easier races before coming back to G1 level and it’s paid dividends.
He won the Listed SAJC Redelva Stakes and then the Group II SAJC Tobin Bronze Stakes before landing the all important G1 victory under a beautiful ride from Jamie Melham, who remained cool when he bungled the start.
She moved to Plan B and allowed him to regroup before charging to the line with a scintillating turn of foot to win by a length and a half over long shot Sir Sway with Everest winner and race favourite Giga Kick in third place.
"Nothing went to plan, he reared out the gates, missed the start, but I just got a dream run, I got a beautiful run in the end," Melham said.
"Giga Kick was on our outside, I thought if I drag back now and get on his backside, he's going to be too sharp.
"We just rode for luck, the gaps came, I was just a passenger, Mick has this horse absolutely flying, it was a very impressive win."
A $410,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Segenhoe Stud draft for MG Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, Reserve Bank runs for a syndicate of stable clients that include Yulong and has the overall record of five wins from nine starts with prizemoney topping $880,000.
"He's a Group 1 winner now as a colt, isn't he? He's a beautiful, sound, big, strong and nice colt," said Mick Price.
"I was a bit concerned in the run where he was, I did say to her (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.
"I can only say he's a very good colt, and he's won a Group 1."
Bred by Segenhoe, he is the best of two winners from Our Songbird, a metro winning half-sister by Fastnet Rock to stakes-winners Debonairly and Corsaire
Segenhoe sold a yearling colt by Pinatubo (IRE) from Our Songbird at Magic Millions this year for $375,000 to Andy Lo.
Our Songbird had no foal last year after missing the previous season and is now back in foal to Capitalist.
Reserve Bank is the second Group I winner for Capitalist, who stands at Newgate this spring at a fee of $44,000.