Mathew Ellerton ordered to stay home as Band Of Brothers claims victory in Group 3 Vain Stakes

Trainer Mathew Ellerton wanted to be at Caulfield but had to settle for watching Band Of Brothers win the Vain Stakes from the couch as he continues his recovery from a stroke.

Damian Lane guides Band Of Brothers to a comfortable win in the Group 3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield. Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Popular Flemington trainer Mathew Ellerton got one of two wishes on Saturday and the result at Caulfield in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) with Band Of Brothers.

Ellerton, at home recovering from a stroke, was unsuccessful in a bid to go against doctor’s – and wife Leah’s – orders to be trackside, but blinkers were added to Band Of Brothers.

“He’s at home, watching, yelling at the TV most likely,” Leah said.

“He’s out of rehab, he’s getting movement in his left arm… he’s got to take it slowly.”

Ellerton suffered a stroke while on holiday in Bali last month.

Band Of Brothers was coincidently the stable’s first winner after Ellerton’s health scare.

Ellerton has been back to his Flemington stable once, since being discharged from rehab, but Leah and his doctor urged him to take it easy.

“It’s good, being in his own environment (at home) has helped,” Leah said.

“He’s trying as much as he can do (involvement with the stable), he wanted to come here (Caulfield) and I said ‘you’re not coming, you can’t come’.

“It’s too much, his brain needs to heal, they (doctors) don’t want to hamper any of that.”

Band Of Brothers claims the Vain Stakes! 👏@[e-mail]/Q3eHQeSIuc

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 17, 2024

Band Of Brothers was expertly placed in the small field and handled by jockey Damian Lane.

“Credit to the team for identifying this race was going to be a small field (six runners) and we elected to come here rather than a Benchmark 64 on Wednesday,” Lane said.

Lane said the blinkers certainly helped the cause on Saturday.

“Switched him on a little bit, he was very hesitant to lead up last start and pulled up to a trot in the home straight,” Lane said.

“Had his ears pricked and was stopping and starting, I was sure the blinkers would bring him on that little bit he needed to.”

Let’sfacethemusic and favourite Wonder Boy rounded out the top three in the Vain Stakes.

Snowden keeps Drifting options open

Trainer Peter Snowden has the luxury of being selective on the placement of Drifting after the smart filly, largely family owned, saluted in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m).

Drifting improved an impressive record, three wins from five starts including two Group 3s, on Saturday at Caulfield.

Tasmanian raider Geegees Mistruth surged late for second but could not get closer than three-quarters of a length from the winner.

Snowden has options in Melbourne and Sydney for Drifting, a $160,000 Inglis Classic Sale graduate.

“There’s no more pressure than family pressure,” Snowden said.

“I’ll be selective, I won’t give her a lot of racing, she’s very light, but she’s building a good record.”

Drifting away with the Quezette! @SnowdenRacing1@blake_shinnpic.twitter.com/UVSEZKyeWN

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 17, 2024

Drifting led and travelled sweetly under jockey Blake Shinn to set up the win in the first half of the race.

“It was good to see her win like that, a good result, Blake rode her extremely well, I would be disappointed if she didn’t win coming to the corner considering the run she had,” Snowden said.

“She put them away and ran nice time, we’re very lucky to have a horse like her.

“She’s got a bombproof attitude, she’s got brilliant gate speed and that will always take you a long way, to be able to harness that and bring her back and he did that perfectly today.”

Snowden has options in Melbourne and Sydney for Drifting.

“I’ll have a good think about that, I’m leaning a bit towards Melbourne but I’ll give it a week and make a decision then, there’s no rush,” Snowden said.

“She’s pretty athletic and doesn’t need a lot of racing, we’ll hand-pick the races we want to run in and hopefully kick goals.”

Originally published as Mathew Ellerton ordered to stay home as Band Of Brothers claims victory in Group 3 Vain Stakes