3 minute read

Mathew Ellerton and Damian Lane have combined to land the Vain Stakes at Caulfield.

Trainer Mathew Ellerton had to be persuaded to stay at home to watch Band Of Brothers land a Stakes race victory at Caulfield. 

Ellerton only recently returned home from rehabilitation after suffering a stroke in Bali while on holiday in June and watched Band Of Brothers land the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) on Saturday from the comfort of home. 

Ridden by Damian Lane, Band Of Brothers ($5) scored a half-length win from Let'sfacethemusic ($4.40) with the $3.30 favourite Wonder Boy a short-half-head away third. 

Ellerton's wife Leah said her husband had asked what he should be wearing to watch Band Of Brothers race at Caulfield. 

"He's at home. He's out of rehab and he's getting movement in his left arm," Ellerton said. 

"But he's got to take it slow. It's only been a week, but being in your home environment, it's a help. 

"He's been to the stables once and he wanted to come here today, but it's too much. 

"His brain needs to heal, and the doctors don't want him to hamper that." 

Ellerton said her husband was instrumental in calling for a set of blinkers on Band Of Brothers after watching the gelding in his last start placing at Caulfield. 

Lane said he got a little more satisfaction in winning aboard Band Of Brothers having been associated with the Ellerton stable from when he first moved from Perth as an apprentice. 

"It is a little bit more rewarding when you ride one for this stable and one you ride a fair bit for," Lane said. 

"The blinkers switched him on a bit. He was very hesitant to lead up last time and felt like he was going to pull up to a trot in the home straight. 

"He had his ears pricked and was looking everywhere and I thought the blinkers would bring him on that little bit. 

"He looked great in the race parade and that's a credit to everyone back at the stable." 

Lane did a fair amount of the early education work on Band Of Brothers and was aboard the gelding when he broke his maiden status at Bendigo last month. 

But he could not envisage Band Of Brothers rising to Stakes company so early in his career, despite both he and Ellerton having an opinion of the gelding. 

"We always liked him but winning a Group race was probably a stretch," Lane said. 

"He was a very green, raw horse, but we knew he had a lot to come. 

"Credit to the team in identifying this race as it was going to be a small field and we elected to come here rather than a (benchmark) 64 at Sandown on Wednesday."