More to come from classy Band Of Brothers
Band Of Brothers (Omaha Beach) became his former shuttle sire’s first Australian black-type winner by taking the Vain Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Despite occupying the fourth line of betting in a six-horse field at $5, the gelding took the key three-year-old sprint by 0.5 lengths, beating second-elect Let’sfacethemusic (I Am Invincible).
Favourite Wonder Boy (Cosmic Force) was close up in third, while Blue Stratum (Blue Point) found a one-week back-up too much in weakening into fourth after looming early in the straight.
Band Of Brothers was superbly ridden by Damian Lane, who positioned him just behind the leading pair and sent him to the lead at the 250 metres.
The win was Band Of Brothers’ second, after success at Bendigo second-up, and was yet another for the combination of breeder David Moodie’s Hesket Bloodstock and trainer Matt Ellerton.
It also sparked high emotions, since Ellerton was recovering at home after suffering a stroke while on holiday in Bali in early July.
Victory also brought a little belated glory for Omaha Beach (War Front). The eight-year-old, a triple Grade 1 winner in the US, was part of the short-lived Spendthrift Farm experiment in Australia, serving barely two complete seasons before the famed American stud suddenly shut its Australian wing. In December, 2021, he was returned to the US for good and he stood at Spendthrift for $40,000 (approx. AU$60,000) in 2024 and has sired six stakes winners.
Omaha Beach, who stood here for $22,000 (inc GST), has had 15 runners from his first Australian crop of 71 foals, for four winners. His second crop yielded 66 foals who will start racing this season.
Lane said Band Of Brothers had benefited from his suggestion of adding blinkers on Saturday following his fading third after leading over 100 metres further at the same course on July 27.
“The blinkers switched him on a little bit,” Lane told Racing.com. “He was very hesitant to lead up last start and I just felt he was going to pull up to a trot in the home straight last start.
“He had his ears pricked and was stopping and starting, and I was just sure the blinkers would bring him on that little bit that we needed him to, and it did so.
“He looked great in the yard before the race. That’s a credit to everyone at home at the moment just doing a really good job.
“We always liked him, but probably to be seeing him win a group race was probably a stretch.
“He was a very green, raw horse. We knew he had a lot to come, but probably it was a stretch a couple of months ago to think he’d be winning a Group race.
“Credit to the team for identifying this race. It was going to be a small field, so we elected to come here rather than a Benchmark 64 on Wednesday.”
Deputising for her husband, Leah Ellerton said Matt would have enjoyed the win.
“He’s at home watching, yelling at the TV most likely,” she said.
Band Of Brothers (3 g Omaha Beach – Medgrinda by Medaglia D’Oro) is the first winner from two runners out of the unraced Medgrinda (Medaglia D’Oro), a daughter of Kulgrinda (Exceed And Excel), who won four stakes races headed by the SAJC RN Irwin Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m).
Medgrinda has a two-year-old colt by Vino Rosso (Curlin) and a yearling filly by Gold Standard (Sebring), but was not covered last spring.