Vain Stakes
The Vain Stakes is a Group 3 set weights & penalties race for three-year-old colts & geldings held each August at Caulfield racecourse during the Melbourne spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 1100 metres and worth $200,000 in prize money. The 2020 Vain Stakes was won by Our Playboy from Ranting with Rulership third.
Taking place on Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield, the Vain Stakes was upgraded to Group 3 status for the 2013/2014 racing season and is the male equivalent of the Gr3 Quezette Stakes for fillies held on the same day.
Vain Stakes info
| Date: | Saturday 14th August 2021 |
| Track: | Caulfield racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 1100 metres |
| Race Type: | 3yo C&G - Set Weights + Penalty |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
| 2020 Winner: | Our Playboy |
The Vain Stakes is the first group race of the new racing season for colts & geldings only. Most of the time the assembled field is made up of returning stars on their way to bigger races, or fit, in-form winter gallopers testing themselves in stronger grade.
The better class three-year-olds may go on to a race like the Gr3 HDF McNeil Stakes at Caulfield later in the month or perhaps step up to the Gr2 Danehill Stakes down the Flemington straight course in September. Fast 'n' Rocking (2nd in 2013) went on to win the HDF McNeil Stakes at Caulfield following his fast finishing second in this event.
Bivouac (2019) resumed from a spell to score an outstanding victory in this event for the James Cummings stable and recent Vain Stakes winners include Tony Nicconi (2018) and Jukebox (2017).
Spring Carnival Guide
Safeguard (2013) claimed the Gr3 Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield after winning this race, while Fast 'N' Rocking (2nd in 2013) took out the HDF McNeil Stakes at Caulfield after finishing runner-up.
Brilliant 3yo sprinter Sepoy (2011) had an oustanding spring after winning this race. He won the Gr2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington, the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley, the Gr2 Caulfield Sprint at Caulfield, before taking out the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington during the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Quality galloper Star Witness (3rd in 2011) continued on to Flemington in November during the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival to win the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby Day before finishing runner-up to champion mare Black Caviar in the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic on the final day of the carnival.
Toorak Toff (2010) finished runner-up in the Gr3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude at Caulfield while Soul (2nd in 2010) ran third in the Caulfield Sprint at the same track.
2020 Vain Stakes
1. $12.00 Our Playboy 56.0 Ben Melham
2. $6.00 Ranting 56.0 Dwayne Dunn
3. $2.40 Rulership 56.0 Damian Lane
then followed
4. $18.00 Branders Rule 56.0 Luke Nolen
5. $9.50 Larimer Street 57.0 Damien Oliver
6. $19.00 Lunar Fox 58.0 Jordan Childs
7. $51.00 Keep On Fighting 56.0 Patrick Moloney
8. $21.00 The Cruiser 56.0 Arron Lynch
9. $4.80 Hydro Star 56.0 Jamie Mott
Margins: 1 len, 2.25 len
Time: 1:04.91
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Vain Stakes winners & placegetters
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2020 | Our Playboy | Ranting | Rulership | 1:04.9 |
| 2019 | Bivouac | Sebrakate | Dirty Work | 1:03.4 |
| 2018 | Tony Nicconi | Long Leaf | Native Soldier | 1:04.8 |
| 2017 | Jukebox | Plutocracy | Poseidon's Pool | 1:04.8 |
| 2016 | Russian Revolution | Highland Beat | Hardham | 1:05.1 |
| 2015 | Gold Symphony | Top Me Up | Star Planet | 1:04.4 |
| 2014 | Get The Nod | Stingray | Boomwaa | 1:03.8 |
| 2013 | Safeguard | Fast 'n' Rocking | Hill Spy | 1:04.8 |
| 2012 | Psychic Mick | Planet Voyage | Free Of Doubt | 1:06.1 |
| 2011 | Sepoy | Golden Archer | Grand Brittania | 1:03.9 |
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