Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Band Of Brothers digs deep to claim the Ramornie
A full field of 16 runners scorched the Grafton turf in the 2026 edition of the Listed Ramornie Handicap and it was Band Of Brothers (Omaha Beach {USA}) who delivered in style, scoring by just over a length in the hands of jockey Dylan Turner for trainer Matthew Dunn.
It was Band Of Brothers' second stakes victory, having previously won the G3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield as a 3-year-old last season.
There was an abundance of speed early as Dylan Turner allowed Band Of Brothers to take up the running, with My Mum’s Toyboy (Kobayashi) applying pressure on the outside, while Fire Star (Deep Field) was caught three-wide without cover near the pace.
As the field fanned upon straightening there appeared to be plenty of winning chances, but Band Of Brothers continued to sustain his run and never really looked like being beaten, scoring by just over a length from Pereille (Fastnet Rock), with Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) finishing third.
It was a terrific performance by the Matthew Dunn-trained galloper after working at both ends of the race and giving his rivals every opportunity.
The trainer revealed the Ramornie was not initially a target for Band Of Brothers, but was naturally delighted with the victory, his 128th winner of the 2025/26 season, lifting him to sixth on the Australian trainers' premiership.
Matthew Dunn | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“To be honest, it (Ramornie) was a bit of an afterthought,” Dunn said.
“He went to the Glasshouse Handicap second-up and he was a bit disappointing but he was probably on the wrong part of the track.
“Today, he found himself in front, fought on really hard and they had the opportunity to get to him in the straight but he really dug deep.”
"Today, he found himself in front, fought on really hard and they had the opportunity to get to him in the straight but he really dug deep." - Matthew Dunn
Sales info: Band Of Brothers was bred by Hesket Bloodstock and is raced by his breeders under the Hesket Thoroughbreds and Hesket Bloodstock banner.
Pedigree info: Band Of Brothers is out of the unraced Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Medgrinda, who has also left the five-time winner Zemgrinda (Impending).
Band Of Brothers' grandam Kulgrinda (Exceed And Excel) was a Group 3 and three-time Listed winner and is also a three-quarter-sister to the G1 New Zealand Derby winner Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
The extended family includes the Group 1-winners River Dove (Hurricane Sky), and Captivant, and also another winner from the family saluted on Wednesday at Warwick Farm with Oh Yes She Did (Yes Yes Yes) scoring impressively.
Medgrinda, in recent times, has produced the 3-year-old gelding Zweigelt (Vino Rosso {USA}), who has been placed from only two starts, a 2-year-old filly named Secret Crossing (Gold Standard), and she is due to foal to City Of Troy (USA) this spring. David Moodie picked her up for $170,000 at the recent Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, where she was offered as part of the Hesket Thoroughbreds Dispersal consignment.
Castillo King cruises to victory
The Michael Freedman-trained 2-year-old colt Castillo King (Farnan) arrived at Warwick Farm with a growing reputation after an impressive trial win on June 26, and he more than justified his favouritism with an effortless maiden victory on Wednesday.
Partnered by Tommy Berry, Castillo King defeated a smart field of colts and geldings by just over three lengths in a performance where he barely came off the bridle.
Eviction Notice (Stay Inside), ridden by Rachel King, showed speed to cross from a wide barrier and lead, while Maritime Magnate (Capitalist) settled outside the leader.
Berry positioned Castillo King perfectly in fourth with cover on the inside, travelling comfortably behind the genuine tempo. Approaching the home turn, Rachel King moved off the rail aboard Eviction Notice, presenting Berry with an inviting run. Castillo King quickly accelerated through the opening, burst to the front under minimal riding at the 300-metre mark and cruised to an authoritative victory.
Eviction Notice boxed on well to finish second, just over three lengths adrift, while Maritime Magnate battled on gamely for third in an on-pace dominated race. It was a dominant display by a highly promising debutant that could go onto better things as an early 3-year-old.
Castillo King winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Tommy Berry's decision to cut short his holiday was rewarded after electing not to miss the colt's debut.
“I probably wasn't going to come back until Saturday, but when I saw him in I didn't want to forgo that ride,” Berry said.
“He's a smart colt. He's got a great attitude, and he will appreciate getting over a little bit further. He was out of his comfort zone the whole way trying to hold that box seat, but I loved what I saw late.
"He's (Castillo King) a smart colt. He's got a great attitude, and he will appreciate getting over a little bit further." - Tommy Berry
“Now the pressure is off, he's done it, and he ran good time. He was put under really good pressure, so the sky is the limit.”
Trainer Michael Freedman was also encouraged by the colt's performance.
“He's a nice colt that's heading in the right direction,” Freedman said.
"He's (Castillo King) a nice colt that's heading in the right direction." - Michael Freedman
“You probably don't want to get too carried away with a maiden win at Warwick Farm in July but I feel the 2-year-old races are quite strong today.
“He ran a nice time which is encouraging.
“All being well, I'd like to give him another run but how far into the spring I go with him remains to be seen.
Michael Freedman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“If he comes through today okay I'd be keen to have a look at a Saturday race, whether that's an average Saturday race or something a bit better is a decision for another day.”
Sales info: Castillo King was purchased for $180,000 by TFI and Michael Freedman Racing from the Lime Country Thoroughbreds draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Castillo King is the fourth live foal out of dual winner Boorooj (Exceed And Excel), who also showed her class when finishing fourth in the G3 Widden Stakes.
Connections of Castillo King after winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Boorooj boasts an outstanding pedigree as a daughter of G1 Flight Stakes winner Unearthly (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and is a half-sister to G1 Australasian Oaks winner Invest (Dehere {USA}) and Group 2-placed Waterloo Sunset (Fastnet Rock), who in turn has produced the Group 3 winner and Group 1-placegetter Sunsets (Dundeel {NZ}).
Boorooj, in recent times, has left a weanling filly by Pride Of Dubai and missed to Storm Boy last spring.
American Eagle soars highest on debut
It was a professional and classy debut by the Clayton Douglas-trained 2-year-old colt American Eagle (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who carried the instantly recognisable MyRacehorse colours to victory at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday.
The flashy black colt had impressed when winning a Mornington jump-out a week earlier and transferred that form to race day under Jamie Mott. American Eagle was recently transferred to the Douglas stable following the suspension of trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.
There was genuine early tempo as the race favourite Judas Tree (Blue Point {Ire}) worked across to lead, while Perfectly Fine (Capitalist), ridden by Luke Currie, settled outside the leader and Civic Square (Wooded {Ire}) enjoyed the run of the race in behind.
Judas Tree, with Jye McNeil aboard, travelled sweetly into the straight and kicked strongly, but American Eagle loomed ominously out wide approaching the 150-metre mark before finishing powerfully to score by three-quarters of a length. Judas Tree was brave in second, while the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Commit (Profiteer) worked home well for third.
“He’s done a terrific job. Obviously I haven’t had a lot to do with him, I’ve only had him a short amount of time, but he has just impressed me with whatever he has done," trainer Clayton Douglas said.
"He’s (American Eagle) done a terrific job. I’ve only had him a short amount of time, but he has just impressed me with whatever he has done." - Clayton Douglas
“He has a great temperament that is going to take him a long way, a big strong horse that is just going to keep developing and I think there will be some nice races for him in the future.
Clayton Douglas | Image courtesy of Clayton Douglas Racing
“We do feel he is going to get out over further, so we did want him to race in a good manner today and we felt that the big Sandown track would suit him, a big spacious track like this and let him balance up, and he really attacked the line well."
Winning jockey Jamie Mott was equally impressed by both the colt's performance and professionalism.
“He had a great day out, he travelled beautifully, he was able to balance out down the straight. He did get a little wayward when he hit the front but I think he has a lot of class and a big future.
“He is a horse that has a big future. I’m hoping he can hopefully get to the top level.”
“He (American Eagle) is a horse that has a big future. I’m hoping he can hopefully get to the top level.” - Jamie Mott
Jamie Mott | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sales info: American Eagle was purchased for $400,000 by Anthony Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Yulong draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: American Eagle is the third foal and third winner out of the six-time winning Redoute’s Choice mare Awake The Stars. The best of her winners has been Stardealt (Dundeel {NZ}), who has won over 1600 metres and was also placed in the Listed Tasmanian Derby.
American Eagle's grandam My Chicharita (NZ) (Towkay) won the G2 Royal Stakes over 2000 metres at Ellerslie as a 3-year-old filly. This is also the extended family of the 14-time winner and three-time Group 2 winner Le Zagaletta (Last Tycoon {Ire}).
Awake The Stars, in recent times, has left a yearling colt by Grunt (NZ) and was served by King Colorado last October.
American Eagle as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Oh Yes She Did deliver
A freshen-up and a change of stable proved the perfect combination for Oh Yes She Did (Yes Yes Yes), who resumed in impressive fashion to win the 2-year-old fillies' Maiden Plate at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
She had shown plenty of promise during her first preparation, including a slashing fourth in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes on debut behind Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}) last October. However, she was unable to build on that performance in her next two starts, including finishing last in the Restricted Listed Inglis Millennium at her last raceday outing.
Following a spell and a transfer to the Peter Snowden stable, she returned with a strong Randwick trial win earlier this month before producing a stylish first-up victory.
Race favourite Chanterelle (Ole Kirk), ridden by Rachel King, showed speed from her wide draw to lead, while Chad Schofield settled Oh Yes She Did in second. Rocket Girl (I Am Invincible) enjoyed a favourable run in third.
Chanterelle travelled strongly into the straight and kicked clear, appearing the likely winner. However, Schofield went to work on Oh Yes She Did, who responded gamely to reel in the leader and score by half a length. Coco Affair (Home Affairs) worked home well to finish third, about a length and a half behind the runner-up.
“It was good to see her do what she did today because she's been showing us quite a bit at home,” winning trainer Peter Snowden said.
“A beautiful physical type that's a great mover and there was a lot to like about what she did today.
"A beautiful physical type that's a great mover and there was a lot to like about what she did today." - Peter Snowden
“She can be in a bit of a hurry to do things. She got a bit keen mid race today but then relaxed again and found plenty in what I think was a good race.
“If she comes through today there's no reason why we can't push on and give her another run or two.”
Peter Snowden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Oh Yes She Did was purchased for $240,000 by Kearney Racing and D Springfield from the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Oh Yes She Did is one of four winners out of the three-time winner Lanikai (I Am Invincible). The mare is doing an excellent job at stud, having left Kalino (Pierro) to win seven races, including at Listed level, while Maili (Yes Yes Yes) was Listed placed in the Tattersall's Stakes as a 2-year-old.
Oh Yes She Did as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lanikai is a half-sister to the seven-time winner and Listed placegetter Peace No War (War Pass {USA}). The extended family also includes Group 1 winners River Dove (Hurricane Sky), Captivant and Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}).
Lanikai, in recent times, has left a yearling colt named Kalikai (Pierro), a weanling colt by Pierro, and missed to Shinzo last spring.
