Vain Stakes

The Vain Stakes is a Group 3 sprinting event held at Caulfield Racecourse ahead of the spring.

2023 Vain Stakes Results

  • 1st: #2 Cylinder
  • 2nd: #6 Ouroboros
  • 3rd: #4 I Am Unstoppable



The 2023 Vain Stakes is an early Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival 1100m sprint that attracts some of the best new season three-year-old colts and geldings from both local and interstate stables.

Run under set weights plus penalties conditions, the Vain Stakes often features gallopers heading towards a race like the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) back at the track in October over a mile.

Held on PB Lawrence Stakes Day, the Vain Stakes field tends to be filled out with fairly successful colts and geldings who already have decent black type experience. With a total purse of $200,000 as of 2021, Group 3 race is the male equivalent of the fillies-only Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) held at the same meeting for Thousand Guineas hopes.

Horses that end up in the Vain Stakes field tend to race first-up or come via smaller, unlisted events as part of their pre-warm up. Because there is such a considerable number of entrants who are first or second up, the Vain Stakes results can often be difficult to predict, as most horses are not in full form. Those runners that see success in the Vain Stakes results are likely to contest later events such as the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes or the Group 2 Danehill Stakes.

Giga Kick (2022) was the latest horse to complete the Vain Stakes – Danehill Stakes double.

Due to the high quality nature of the Vain Stakes field, you’ll often see horses continue on to compete in the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The 2019 Vain Stakes winner Bivouac went on to win Sydney’s Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) later that season and ran second in Flemington’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). He also followed the following autumn and won the 2020 Newmarket Handicap at elite level.

Sepoy (2011) was the last horse to complete the Vain Stakes – Coolmore Stud Stakes double.

The form out of the 2021 Vain Stakes was franked with the winner Ingratiating going on to run third in that year’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) against the older horses.

The 2022 Vain Stakes winner Giga Kick went on to make history winning the $15 million The Everest (1200m) in an upset at 20/1 over the older horses just two starts later in Sydney.

Giga Kick would further frank the Vain Stakes form winning a number of Group 1 races the following year including the 2023 All Aged Stakes in Sydney and Brisbane’s Doomben 10,000.

The 2023 Vain Stakes took place on Saturday August 19, 2023 on P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day, Saturday August 19, 2023 and was won in a driving photo-finish by Godolphin’s returning Golden Slipper runner-up Cylinder ($1.50F). 

Vain Stakes
Date: Saturday August 19, 2023
Track: Caulfield Racecourse
Distance: 1100m
Race Type: 3YO C&G SWP
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $200,000

2023 Vain Stakes Results

  • 1st: #2 Cylinder ($1.50F)
  • 2nd: #6 Ouroboros
  • 3rd: #4 I Am Unstoppable

It took the length of the straight but the odds-on favourite, Golden Slipper runner-up Cylinder ($1.50F) from the Godolphin stable, drove late to charge home the final 50m and get his nose down right on the line to salute for the punters first-up in the 2023 Vain Stakes results at Caulfield.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 2 CYLINDER James Cummings Blake Shinn 7 58kg $1.50F
2 6 OUROBOROS Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Craig Newitt 0.1L 5 56kg $11
3 4 I AM UNSTOPPABLE Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans Zac Spain 0.3L 4 57kg $11
4 1 LITTLE BROSE Ben, Will & JD Hayes Michael Dee 1.3L 6 59kg $7.50
5 5 SCHEELITE Ken & Kasey Keys Daniel Stackhouse 1.4L 2 56kg $13
6 3 KRAKARIB Simon Zahra Mark Zahra 6.9L 1 58kg $41
7 7 VEECEE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ethan Brown 8.9L 3 56kg $12

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Vain Stakes Betting Odds

Betting on the Vain Stakes 2023 will be available here with market links to Ladbrokes.com.au once Racing Victoria announce the final field.

Cylinder ($1.50 in 2023) was the last favourite in Vain Stakes betting to win.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 VAIN STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Vain Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 VAIN STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Vain Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Vain Stakes 2023 Tips on the early spring lead-up this season.

  • To Win: #2 Cylinder ($1.70 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Would love to land on a bit more value but in a field this small with a horse of this calibre it is really hard to tip against the odds-on elect Cylinder. Godolphin’s still untapped Exceed And Excel colt enjoyed a brilliant autumn in Sydney winning back-to-back Group 2s before his close second in the Golden Slipper at elite level. A Heavy (9) track saw him undone in the Sires’ when seventh last time out back in April, but with firmer going for Saturday fresh he can bounce back. Two lead-up trial wins have him fit and ready to fire fresh for the punters from barrier seven of seven with Blake Shinn aboard.

2023 Vain Stakes Field

The 2023 Vain Stakes field and barrier draw are announced the Wednesday leading-up to P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day with full acceptances to be listed below.

The 2023 Vain Stakes final field features a small but quality line-up of just seven runners led in betting by James Cummings’ odds-on favourite and Group 1 Golden Slipper runner-up from the autumn, Cylinder, in the outside alley.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 21x218x LITTLE BROSE Ben, Will & JD Hayes Michael Dee 6 59kg 102
2 22x1127x CYLINDER James Cummings Blake Shinn 7 58kg 100
3 61x60x KRAKARIB Simon Zahra Mark Zahra 1 58kg 71
4 11x I AM UNSTOPPABLE Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans Zac Spain 4 57kg 74
5 11x SCHEELITE Ken & Kasey Keys Daniel Stackhouse 2 56kg 73
6 2×331 OUROBOROS Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Craig Newitt 5 56kg 69
7 120x VEECEE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ethan Brown 3 56kg 72

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Vain Stakes Nominations

The early Vain Stakes 2023 Nominations are taken by Racing Victoria on the Monday leading-up to race day, the full list of entries to be published right here once announced.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 21x218x LITTLE BROSE C 3 Ben, Will & JD Hayes 1 59kg 102
2 22x1127x CYLINDER C 3 James Cummings 2 58kg 100
3 61x60x KRAKARIB G 3 Simon Zahra 3 58kg 71
4 11x I AM UNSTOPPABLE C 3 Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans 4 57kg 74
5 11x SCHEELITE C 3 Ken & Kasey Keys 5 56kg 73
6 120x VEECEE C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 6 56kg 72
7 2×331 OUROBOROS C 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 7 56kg 69
8 29x30x31 COINCIDE G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 8 56kg 65
9 4×2213 MANSIERE G 3 Nick Ryan 9 56kg 64
10 1x SCENTIFY C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 10 56kg 64
11 3×4 HEDGED G 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 11 56kg 61

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Vain Stakes History

Inaugurated in 1992, the Vain Stakes has always attracted a strong assortment of young colts and geldings. Never Undercharge took out the first edition of the Vain Stakes with a thrilling run to set the standard of tight finishes that the Vain Stakes is known for.

Initially referred to as the Vain Quality Stakes, the race name was shortened to the Vain Stakes in 1995. For a year in 2010 the race was named the Lister Diesel Stakes.

Initially held at Sandown Park Racecourse, the Vain Stakes shifted to Caulfield for a year in 1994 and then again in 1997. From 2002 onwards, the race’s permanent home has been at Caulfield Racecourse.

Although the Vain Stakes is now held over a distance of 1100m, it was raced over 1200m prior to 2006, when the drop to 1100m was first made. Since then, it has remained at 1100m with the exception of 2009, when it was run over 1200m.

Notable Vain Stakes winners include Cannibal King (1994), Haradasun (2006), Starspangledbanner (2009), Toorak Toff (2010), Bivouac (2019), and that year’s subsequent The Everest race champion Giga Kick (2022).

Giga Kick also set a new Vain Stakes race record winning in 2022 in a time of 1 minute 02.81 seconds.

Vain Stakes results since 2000, including winning times, are listed below.

Vain Stakes Results

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Vain Stakes
1st Cylinder 1 minute 3.14 seconds
2nd Ouroboros
3rd I Am Unstoppable
2022
Vain Stakes
1st Giga Kick 1 minute 2.81 seconds
2nd Alpha One
3rd Millane
2021
Vain Stakes
1st Ingratiating 1 minute 3.97 seconds
2nd General Beau
3rd Generation
2020
Vain Stakes
1st Our Playboy 1 minute 4.91 seconds
2nd Ranting
3rd Rulership
2019
Vain Stakes
1st Bivouac 1 minute 3.42 seconds
2nd Sebrakate
3rd Dirty Work
2018
Vain Stakes
1st Tony Nicconi 1 minute 4.85 seconds
2nd Long Leaf
3rd Native Soldier
2017
Vain Stakes
1st Jukebox 1 minute 4.8 seconds
2nd Plutocracy
3rd Poseidon’s Pool
2016
Vain Stakes
1st Russian Revolution 1 minute 5.1 seconds
2nd Highland Beat
3rd Hardham
2015
Vain Stakes
1st Gold Symphony 1 minute 04.4 seconds
2nd Top Me Up
3rd Star Planet
2014
Vain Stakes
1st Get The Nod 1 minute 03.9 seconds
2nd Stingray
3rd Boomwa
2013
Vain Stakes
1st Safeguard 1 minute 04.8 seconds
2nd Fast ‘n’ Rocking
3rd Hill Spy
2012
Vain Stakes
1st Psychic Mick 1 minute 06.1 seconds
2nd Planet Voyage
3rd Free Of Doubt
2011
Vain Stakes
1st Sepoy 1 minute 03.9 seconds
2nd Golden Archer
3rd Grand Britannia
2010
Vain Stakes
1st Toorak Toff 1 minute 07.1 seconds
2nd Soul
3rd Star Witness
2009
Vain Stakes
1st Starspangledbanner 1 minute 04.1 seconds
2nd Eclair Fastpass
3rd Djatala
2008
Vain Stakes
1st Fernandina 1 minute 05.1 seconds
2nd Lord Tavistock
3rd Exceedingly Good
2007
Vain Stakes
1st Shrewd Rhythm 1 minute 03.4 seconds
2nd Purrealist
3rd Diplomatic Force
2006
Vain Stakes
1st Haradasun 1 minute 03.5 seconds
2nd Sharkbite
3rd Churchill Downs
2005
Vain Stakes
1st Red Dazzler 1 minute 13.7 seconds
2nd Maybe Better
3rd Big League
2004
Vain Stakes
1st Zankel 1 minute 12.7 seconds
2nd Special Voyage
3rd Tantat Secret
2003
Vain Stakes
1st Lisboa Stand 1 minute 10.4 seconds
2nd Scaredee Cat
3rd Keep The Faith
2002
Vain Stakes
1st Delago Brom 1 minute 10.1 seconds
2nd Great Glen
3rd Broadband
2001
Vain Stakes
1st North Boy 1 minute 12.9 seconds
2nd Dash For Cash
3rd Tully Dane
2000
Vain Stakes
1st Surtees 1 minute 12.95 seconds
2nd Sort It Out
3rd Mr Gold Flyer

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