Band Of Brothers Lands the G3 Vain Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday August 17

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.

Band Of Brothers takes the quantum leap in Vain Stakes (image Grant Courtney)

After defeating Let'sfacethemusic by one and three-quarter lengths at Bendigo, the Matthew Ellerton-trained gelding had the I Am Invincible colt a half-length behind in the Vain Stakes with talented Cosmic Force colt Wonder Boy coming from last to run third after being chased along by Luke Currie for the trip.

A fighting third over 1200m at Caulfield on July 27, Band Of Brothers advances his record to two wins and a third from four starts with earnings of $174,950.

Winning rider Damian Lane said the addition of blinkers had made a difference.

“(David Moodie’s) Heskett Bloodstock are big supporters of the stable, which makes it more rewarding,” Lane said.

“The blinkers switched him on a bit as he was very hesitant to lead up last start and I thought he was going to pull up to a trot in the home straight. He had his ears pricked, and he was stopping and starting, so I was sure the blinkers would bring him on.

Advertisement

“He looked great in the yard and paraded well, credit to the stable.”

Band Of Brothers sports the winner's rug (image Grant Courtney)

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 Vinery Stud's Headwater, Kulgrinda descends from a family that has served Moodie’s Contact Racing well over the years.

Medgrinda has a yearling colt by Vino Rosso (USA) and a weanling filly by Gold Standard and was not covered last spring.

Arkansas Derby and Malibu Stakes winner Omaha Beach shuttled to Australia from Spendthrift Farm's Kentucky base for two seasons. The son of War Front stands for a fee of $US40,000. Band of Brothers is his seventh stakes-winner worldwide.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ive > Vain Stakes Gr3 1100m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.61
1
Band Of Brothers
- 3g Omaha Beach (USA) x Medgrinda (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: M J Ellerton Rdr: Damian Lane 56
2
0.5
Let'sfacethemusic
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Torvill (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Ethan Brown 56
I Am Invincible
3
0.7
Wonder Boy
- 3g Cosmic Force (AUS) x Beatniks (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: Jerome Hunter Rdr: L Currie 56
4
1.9
Blue Stratum
- 3c Blue Point (IRE) x Tawteen (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
5
6.2
Winchester
- 3g Deep Field (AUS) x Shared Reflections (AUS) (Umatilla (NZ))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Patrick Moloney 56
6
8.7
Interest Point
- 3c Blue Point (IRE) x Libor Lady (USA) (Exchange Rate (USA))
Tnr: David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins Rdr: M J Dee 56
More Reading...
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Omaha Beach's Band Of Brothers Off the Mark
While many breeders take a standoffish approach to American-performed stallions, David Moodie has no such problem.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.