Trainer Matt Dunn celebrated a personal best season as his swift galloper Band Of Brothers displayed impressive stamina to lead throughout the Listed $200,000 Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on Wednesday.
Band Of Brothers rebounded from a lackluster previous start, fending off several rivals in the home straight to secure a popular victory.
For Dunn, the leading trainer in New South Wales’ Northern Rivers district, this marked his inaugural triumph in a significant race during the Grafton Cup Carnival.
The Ramornie Handicap success was Band Of Brothers’ 128th win for the 2025/26 season, propelling Dunn to sixth place in the Australian trainers’ premiership standings.
However, the trainer admitted that the Ramornie was not originally part of Band Of Brothers’ campaign plans.
“To be honest, it (Ramornie) was a bit of an afterthought,” Dunn told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“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.”
Band Of Brothers, strongly supported to $5 favouritism, was expertly guided by jockey Dylan Turner to win the Ramornie by a comfortable one-and-a-quarter lengths over Pereille ($9), with Givemethebeatboys ($6) a further nose back in third.
Fire Star, starting from a wide draw, was never truly in contention but performed commendably to finish fourth, less than a length and a half behind the winner.
This victory at stakes level was the second for the rising five-year-old Band Of Brothers, following his win in the Group 3 Vain Stakes during his three-year-old campaign.
Band Of Brothers has now accumulated five wins and eight placings from 20 starts, boosting his career earnings to almost $630,000.
The talented sprinter is now being considered for the $2 million The Kosciuszko (1200m) on Everest Day at Royal Randwick on October 17.
For those keen to back the next big winner, explore the latest Australian betting sites for the upcoming races.
