Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Top trainer Mick Price has been in the game for more than 30 years, so it was surprising to hear him admit that he “hates” going after million-dollar colts at the big yearling sales.
This was after he oversaw the quinella of his stablemates First Settler (Written Tycoon) and Reserve Bank (Capitalist) in the G2 Danehill S. over 1100 metres at Flemington on Saturday.
Mick Price | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
After the race, Price said picking up quality colts wasn’t always about paying top dollars for them. “That’s not how the game works. Sometimes those big million-dollar colts, I hate them,” he said.
“The ones that I do like, they are well-balanced. They’ve got good feet, knees, good bone, they look like male horses. They’re handsome and have good hind quarters on them, they move well. They’re pretty correct.”
First Settler heads to Coolmore Stud Stakes next
There was no denying that First Settler – now bound for the G1 Coolmore Stud S. for 3-year-olds over 1200 metres at Flemington on November 2 – moved well from the inside barrier one to triumph in his feature sprint worth $300,000 on Saturday.
He gamely held off Reserve Bank inside the final 100 metres in Soft 6 conditions. “He had to dig deep to win from barrier one,” Price said.
“From barrier one down the straight a lot of horses want to find the fence, and they’re on one reign most of the way. And then I thought he was out of contention. To his credit, he dug deep, that horse, and picked himself up.”
Bred by Gerry Harvey, First Settler is a Magic Millions Gold Coast graduate where Yulong Investments and Price went to $750,000 to secure him last year.
He is a half-brother to stakes winner Vienna Princess (Snitzel), out of Graciousness (Street Cry {Ire}), who is one of nine winners for Listed placed winner of four races Lady Capel (Last Tycoon {Ire}).
First Settler as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lady Capel has been a sensational broodmare with four stakes winners led by G1 Chipping Norton S. winner and sire Casino Prince and stakes winners Tagus (Encosta De Lago), Lord Of The Land (Timber Country {USA}) and Metallurgical (Redoute’s Choice). Her daugher, Chateau Cheval (High Chaparral {Ire}) won four times and is the dam of Joint Champion 2YO Colt in Australia and dual Group 2-winning young sire Best Of Bordeaux, and another winning daughter Lady Paget (Testa Rossa) is the dam of G1 JJ Atkins Plate winner and young sire Prince Fawaz.
The family is rooted in Kew Gardens (Fr) (Kenmare {Fr}), dam of sire Just Awesome and grandam of sires Onemorenomore and Dr Green, as well as top-level Hong Kong sprinter Green Birdie (NZ) (Catbird).
Reserve Bank has depth of pedigree
Second placed Reserve Bank was bought for $410,000 by MG Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd from Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Pty Ltd at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Bred by Segenhoe, he is the second winner from Our Songbird (Fastnet Rock), a metro-winning half-sister to stakes winners Debonairly (Snitzel) and Corsaire (Anabaa {USA}).
Reserve Bank as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Our Songbird's imported dam, Crystal Choir (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), is a half-sister to Champion 3YO in Germany and G1 Gelsenkirchen Grosser Erdgas Preis winner Catella (Ger) (Generous {Ire}), the dam of Group 3 winner Caprice (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}).
Price knows good colts can come cheap
Price trained Flying Artie to a G1 Coolmore Stud S. triumph in 2016, after P Whelan purchased him for just $50,000 from Goodwood Farm at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Flying Artie | Standing at Blue Gum Farm
World Champion 3YO Sprinter Flying Artie’s progeny include G1 Blue Diamond S. and G1 Canterbury S. winner, Artorius, and G1 Royal Ascot King Charles III S. (previously G1 King's Stand S.) victor, Asfoora.
This is proof that you can find top talent while not having to fork out the big bucks.
“I see the absolute A-graders (trainers) go to the big colt syndicates, but it doesn’t always work like that. You can buy a nice horse, train it right and still get the right result. I’ve won the Coolmore before with a cheap horse and had a lot of nice colts.
“You can buy a nice horse, train it right and still get the right result. I’ve won the Coolmore before with a cheap horse (Flying Artie) and had a lot of nice colts.” - Mick Price
“But these two colts – they are beautiful. We paid $750,000 for First Settler and $410,000 for Reserve Bank. They are magnificent colts, and you know what? If they win a Group 1 sprint and a stud master comes a-looking, the stud master will buy.
“You could present them in conformation, type and temperament and stature – you could present them to any stud master and they will fly.”
Price said prospective colts did not necessarily have to look in top shape when he would go scouting for stable additions.
“I take a bit of a conformational hit to a degree on horses that I pay less for. But if they’re by proven stallions and they’re beautiful-looking horses, I can buy them, I can train them and I can make them colts and keep them colts.”
“... if they’re by proven stallions and they’re beautiful-looking horses, I can buy them, I can train them and I can make them colts and keep them colts.” - Mick Price
Price has claimed victories in the Futurity S., Railway S., Goodwood H. and Toorak H. – all at Group 1 level – among many other stakes triumphs. But he said winning any stakes race with a young horse always gave him a huge thrill.
“I have been doing it for 30 years. But even (Saturday) was like my first day at the races. I’ve still got adrenaline, I’m still nervous, I’m still hanging for the right result, and still pleased to get it. We’re always trying to get the staff better and better, and the horses better and better.
“It’s an amazing game."
Looking for another Coolmore crown
Price confirmed both First Settler and Reserve Bank were on a path to the Coolmore Stud S. Before Saturday’s gutsy triumph over his stablemate, First Settler finished 1.25l behind brilliant Ciaron Maher-trained sprinter Growing Empire (Zoustar) – who also races in the Yulong bottle-green colours – in the Poisedon S. over 1100 metres at Flemington on September 14.
First Settler after winning the G2 Danehill S. | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Price will not run his emerging star – now with three wins from four starts – again before the Coolmore Stud S.
“He’s got the right form with Growing Empire, so I think he’s got to be a live chance in the Coolmore. I’m not going to run him again. I think he’s done a bit of racing, and he’s only four weeks between runs, which will allow me to drop off him and then get him into the Coolmore.”
“He’s (First Settler) got the right form with Growing Empire, so I think he’s got to be a live chance in the Coolmore.” - Mick Price
Price said Reserve Bank would benefit from a start in the $175,000 Gothic S. – for 3-year-old colts and geldings over 1200 metres – on Caulfield Cup Day on October 19.
“The other horse, Reserve Bank, I thought he was very good. He had a look around the straight and was probably not as professional as the other horse. He definitely needs another run, so he’ll go into the Gothic in two weeks at Caulfield, on Caulfield Cup Day.
“And then he’ll go into the Coolmore from there. And I’ll also have Let’sfacethemusic first-up.”
“Reserve Bank had a look around the straight and was probably not as professional as the other horse... he’ll go into the Gothic in two weeks... And then he’ll go into the Coolmore from there.” - Mick Price
Let'sfacethemusic (I Am Invincible) hasn't raced since being controversially ridden by Jamie Kah in the G3 HDF McNeil S. on August 31. He has three second placings from five starts.
