In a thrilling conclusion to the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival, the talented three-year-old colt Reserve Bank defied his age to conquer a quality field of older sprinters, including the heavily favoured Giga Kick, in a decisive victory in Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville.

Reserve Bank (pictured winning the Gr. 2 Tobin Bronze) made it a Morphettville hat-trick winning The Goodwood in 2025. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

Trained at Cranbourne by Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr), the son of Capitalist continued his impressive form at the Adelaide track, making it three consecutive wins following his recent Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes triumph.

Jockey Jamie Melham, who also piloted last year’s winner Benedetta, produced a masterful ride on the promising colt, recovering from a slow start to weave through the pack in the straight.

Settling further back than anticipated after a tardy getaway, Reserve Bank ($5.50) unleashed a powerful late surge down the centre of the track, denying long-shot local hope Sir Sway ($61), who ran a brave race for second, and the $2.10 favourite Giga Kick, who finished third to complete The Goodwood trifecta.

“He ran well. From the barrier we had to settle back,” commented Mark Zahra on Giga Kick’s performance. “The jockeys in front of me got into a bit of a tussle and I had to swing wider than I wanted but he got to the line nicely.”

Melham, however, executed a patient and ultimately race-winning ride, finding clear running at the opportune moment.

“Nothing went to plan. He reared out the gates, missed the start, but I just got a dream run,” she told Racing.com.

“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.

“Mick’s got this horse absolutely flying that was a very impressive win.”

Reserve Bank’s victory was significant as it marked the first time this season a three-year-old colt had claimed a Group 1 win in open age company, a fact that brought relief to trainer Mick Price, who admitted to some mid-race concerns.

“I was a bit concerned in the run, where he was,” the now 48-time Group 1 winning trainer said.

“I did say to her (Melham), ‘he’s a nice flow-along sort of horse – he doesn’t like the mixed messages and don’t drag him back.’

“But thankfully they ran along, and he was allowed to use his big stride late and he took off. He just needs a bit of room.

“He’s a sizeable colt, and he’s got a good long stride on him, and he was strong at the end of 1200 metres.

“As the race worked out, you know, it was probably a good spot for him to be.

“There was a bit of argy-bargy going on up in front wasn’t there. He’s a lovely colt, and he’s won a Group 1 – fantastic.”

The win, his fifth from eleven starts, propelled Reserve Bank’s career earnings beyond $980,000.

For the Price & Kent stable, it was a second Group 1 victory of the carnival, following Charm Stone’s earlier triumph in the Robert Sangster Stakes.

However, Charm Stone had a disappointing run in The Goodwood, finishing last.

“Just off her action today. She’s a better mare than that,” Ben Melham said of Charm Stone, who finished 4.7 lengths behind her stablemate.

The training partnership also celebrated victory in The Goodwood with Lombardo in 2022, while Price himself has now won the prestigious sprint four times, having also tasted success with Perfectly Ready (2006) and Velocitea (2010).

2025 The Goodwood Results

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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