Omaha Beach's Band Of Brothers Off the Mark

Mark Smith - Thursday July 11

While many breeders take a standoffish approach to American-performed stallions, David Moodie has no such problem.

Dating back to a future champion sire, Forty Niner (USA), to Street Cry (USA) and Street Boss (USA), Moodie has been a big supporter. He appears to have a likely type in his 2-year-old Omaha Beach (USA) homebred Band Of Brothers.

Band Of Brothers gets the better of Let'sfacethemusic (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Coming off a debut fifth at Sale on June 26, Band Of Brothers broke his maiden over a field of bluebloods in the Brian Templeton's Final Dash Maiden Plate (1100m) at Bendigo on Thursday.

Advertisement

Ridden by Damian Lane for the ailing Mathew Ellerton, Band Of Brothers jumped smartly and settled outside the leader Let'sfacethemusic. The pair dominated the finish, with Band Of Brothers defeating the $475,000 I Am Invincible colt Let'sfacethemusic with five and a half lengths back to the $2,500,000 I Am Invincible colt Railway Man in third.

"He's a progressive horse, and after a few close seconds lately, it's good to get one over the line for Matty," Lane said.

"This horse has promised a bit and did a few things wrong first-up, but he didn't have the easiest of trips. He improved his manners today and showed what he has been showing at home.

"He travelled well throughout and always felt comfortable.

"It would be a great boost for Matty, who has been through a tough time but is on the mend, and I'm sure he would be watching. Well done to Matty's staff, who have been doing a terrific job, and the horses have been going great."

Band of Brothers a strapping son of Omaha Beach (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Band Of Brothers is the first winner from two to race for the unraced Medaglia d'Oro (USA) mare Medgrinda, a daughter of Kulgrinda (Exceed And Excel) whose five stakes winners were highlighted by the Group III SAJC RN Irwin Stakes.

A three-quarter sister to Viery Stud's Headwater, Kulgrinda descends from a family that has served Contact Racing well over the years.

Medgrinda has a yearling colt by Vino Rosso (USA) and a weanling filly by Gold Standard.

Arkansas Derby and Malibu Stakes winner Omaha Beach (War Front) shuttled to Australia from Spendthrift Farm's Kentucky base for two seasons.

Advertisment

Race Result - Brian Templeton's Final Dash Mdn Plate 1100m

Bendigo Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:04.92
1
Band Of Brothers
- 2g Omaha Beach (USA) x Medgrinda (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: M J Ellerton Rdr: Damian Lane 58
2
0.5
Let'sfacethemusic
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Torvill (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: J Mott 58
3
6
Railway Man
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Booker (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: B Shinn 58
4
7
The Bantam
- 2c Hellbent (AUS) x Spirit Mania (AUS) (Lucky Owners (NZ))
Tnr: Brent Stanley Rdr: K Jennings 58
5
9.3
Li'l Brazen
- 2f Brazen Beau (AUS) x Li'l Cashy (AUS) (Keltrice (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Will Price 56
6
9.8
Kaddari
- 2f Heroic Valour (AUS) x Sandrelli (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Nathan Punch 56
7
10.3
Foxy Heart
- 2g Foxwedge (AUS) x Bright Heart (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: B Rawiller 58
8
10.8
The Immortals
- 2g I Am Immortal (AUS) x With Pride (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Calthorpe Rdr: R J Hurdle 58
9
11.1
Brutalism
- 2f Brutal (NZ) x Street Queen (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: Zac Spain 56
More Reading...
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Band Of Brothers Lands the G3 Vain Stakes
When Band Of Brothers broke his maiden at Bendigo, we noted the success his owner/breeder, David Moodie, has enjoyed with North American stallions. Right on cue, the son of Omaha Beach (USA) credited his sire with his first Australian stakes-winner in Saturday’s Group III Ive > Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for Kiwi Stayer
Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.