Connections of two-year-old Band On The Run hope the decision to bypass Flemington will pay off with a stakes win in Tasmania.
Band On The Run was down to contest the Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday but has instead been diverted to the Gold Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Launceston on Wednesday.
While both races carry Listed status, Mornington trainer Shane Nichols reasoned the Gold Sovereign, over the slightly longer trip, looked the better option.
Raced by her breeder Matthew Sandblom, Band On The Run was a last-start second in the Listed Elwick Stakes at Hobart on February 9 which earned her black type, but a win on Wednesday would help her residual value as a broodmare.
“She’s owned by a prominent breeder and while she’s black-type placed, a black-type win would certainly be advantageous,” Nichols said.
“She proved very unlucky in the Elwick Stakes. She got a squeeze out of the gates and was then held up on the corner.
“If she can reproduce that form she should be very hard to beat.”
Nichols said the extra 100 metres at Launceston was also a factor in the decision to take the filly back to Tasmania.
He says if Band On The Run can break through for her maiden success on Wednesday he may raise the bar higher and look at the Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 14.
“In the spring I think she’ll get out to a mile,” Nichols said.
“She’s typical of the I Am Invincible breed. She’s absolutely bombproof, sound and an absolute pleasure to have around the place.
“We flew her over to Tassie and trucked her back. She travelled like a nine-year-old gelding that had done it all its life.”
Band On The Run will again be ridden by Dean Yendall.
