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