Mick Price sets sights on Coolmore Stud Stakes after stablemates First Settler and Reserve Bank quinella Danehill Stakes at Flemington

Brilliant colts First Settler and Reserve Bank fought out an exciting finish in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes and the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes now beckons.

First Settler holds off a surging Reserve Bank in the Danehill Stakes at Flemington. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

“Bring on the Coolmore.”

It was no surprise co-trainer Mick Price was eyeing the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Victoria Derby Day after he and training partner Michael Kent Jr quinellaed the Group 2 Danehill Stakes.

Price and Kent Jr earmarked the Coolmore Stud Stakes, a stallion-making race down the Flemington straight, for First Settler and Reserve Bank long before their clash in the Danehill Stakes.

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First Settler bumped into subsequent Group 1 placegetter Growing Empire when resuming following two winter wins in the Listed Poseidon Stakes last month.

Reserve Bank took a more low-key path to the Danehill Stakes with a dominant Ballarat maiden win at his previous outing but only a half-head separated the pair at the end of Saturday’s $300,000 contest.

“Rapt with the horses, they ran up to expectation,” Price said.

“They’re both lovely, promising stud-type colts and both are very good.”

First Settler up the inside in the Danehill Stakes!

It's a Price & Kent Jnr quinella! @[e-mail]/qH4c0Tb6CZ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 5, 2024

Reserve Bank raced closer to the speed than First Settler, whom jockey Michael Dee had to restrain to find cover early in the race.

First Settler sprinted sharply despite racing inside horses in the last 200m, which Price said was an indication of the winner’s impressive development.

“It was a very good trait for a colt to be able to come up the inside. It’s never easy. To sustain a long run was very good,” Price said.

“He was a naughty colt, a lot of spirit, but he’s become the ultimate professional now. He’s so easy at home. He’s laid back.”

Price said he and Kent Jr would determine whether First Settler or Reserve Bank needed another run in the four weeks between the Danehill and Coolmore Stud Stakes after assessing how they pulled up after their Flemington runs.

Ladbrokes rated First Settler as a $9 chance in Coolmore Stakes betting while Reserve Bank is at $15.

Originally published as Mick Price sets sights on Coolmore Stud Stakes after stablemates First Settler and Reserve Bank quinella Danehill Stakes at Flemington