Exciting three-year-old colt Reserve Bank returned to a rousing Morphettville reception after his narrow win in the million-dollar Group 1 Goodwood last Saturday.
Though 2023 Everest winner Giga Kick started a firm $2.10 favourite, Reserve Bank had plenty of support from punters too, backed from $7 to start a $5.50 second elect.
With Jamie Melham aboard, the colt made his run with Giga Kick from the back of the field and packed too many guns for the $12 million earner, who was resuming and had to settle for third.
Splitting the pair was the $61 shot Sir Sway, who had raced on the pace under Jake Toeroek for Naracoorte co-trainers Sue and Jason Jensch.
Reserve Bank’s win franked the Adelaide autumn form, as he’d won the listed Redelva Stakes and Group 2 Tobin Bronze in the lead-up to the Goodwood.
He now has five wins from nine starts and $884,800 in earnings, as well as a bright stud future as a Group 1-winning son of Capitalist.
The win made it back-to-back Goodwoods for Melham, who won the 2024 edition aboard Benedetta. It was a second Goodwood in four years for the Victorian stable of Mick Price and Michael Kent junior, and the fourth overall for Price.
Reserve Bank also completed a double on the day for Melham, who’d earlier won the Group 3 David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) on $1.80 favourite Steel Trap for Murray Bridge trainers Daniel Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray.
Melham shared the riding honours on the day with husband Ben, who landed the first leg of his double when Wine Barron ($3.10 favourite) won the opener, an 1800-metre handicap at 0-68 level for Wellington trainer Michael Hickmott.
Ben Melham completed his double when he swooped from worse than midfield on Private Legacy ($12) in the listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m) for fillies and mares.
The Autumn Sun mare is trained at Warwick Farm by Greg Hickman, the only NSW trainer to have a win on the day.
Sister’s a stayer too
Dundeel filly Litzdeel gave her value as a future broodmare a huge boost with her win in the Group 3 Ken and Helen Smith SA Fillies Classic over 2500 metres.
Litzdeel ($8.50) had too much stamina for her rivals after racing on the pace under Zac Spain — perhaps not surprising given she’s a half-sister to 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare.
As that stayer was, the filly is trained at Flemington by Danny O’Brien.
Phil stoked about stakes one-two
Dual-state trainer Philip Stokes was well pleased with the result of the Group 3 Cummings Stakes (1600m), even if the punters got his runners the wrong way around.
Last-start winner Regal Azmon ($15) came with a late outside run under Lachlan Neindorf to beat stablemate Arran Bay, who started a $4.60 equal favourite.
Port pairs for Lynch, Lai
Trainer Garret Lynch and apprentice Alan Lai took the points at Port Augusta last Sunday with a double apiece.
Lynch won with the Brooke King-ridden Dylan’s Lad ($4.80) in 0-54 grade over 1200 metres and the Caitlin Tootell-ridden Shadow Express ($6.50) in the same class over 1498 metres.
Lai won on the Brett Campbell-trained Our Destrier ($9) in the 1498-metre benchmark 62 and $1.90 favourite I’m Kenny for Darren and Aimee Magro in 0-56 grade over 1600 metres.