Two of the three youngsters local trainer Mick Price has accepted to face off in Saturday’s Vain Stakes 2014 are dominating the current markets on the Caulfield showdown.

A lead-up to some of the major Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival features for three-year-olds, this weekend’s $150,000 Group 3 KS Environmental Vain Stakes (1100m) has drawn a field of 12 hopeful colts and geldings.

Three of those come from the Price stables and are eyeing a run in the $1 million Group 1 BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) back at the track on October 11.

Of the three two are Group 1 performed but it is the lightly-raced Nordic Empire that is best fancied of the trio and the entire Vain Stakes field.

The Wilander colt has had just the three starts to date but has already enjoyed two victories, most recently over 1000m when resuming at Moonee Valley on August 2.

After drawing the inside alley for the Vain Stakes, Nordic Empire has opened top of the Vain Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.20 to make it back-to-back wins this time in.

Occupying the second line of Vain Stakes betting is then the fellow Price-trained Jabali at $4.20, also drawn well one outside the favourite in barrier two.

A son of Exceed And Excel, Jabali was runner-up behind Earthquake in the Blue Diamond Stakes last February before a two run autumn campaign that ended with an 11^th to Mossfun in the Golden Slipper on April 5.

Price has said Jabali is fit and ready to go first up but that Nordic Empire could also surprise.

His third runner in the race is then Blue Diamond third placegetter Cornrow, the Duporth colt drawn wide in barrier 11 with Chad Schofield in the saddle this weekend.

Cornrow was last seen running third to Peggy Jean in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) run on a Heavy (9) Randwick track on April 14 and pay $12 through Ladbrokes to win first-up in the Vain Stakes.

There is just one other single figure fancy to take out the Vain Stakes this year meanwhile with the Robbie Laing-trained Boomwaa paying $8.50.

A $41 outsider in 2014 Caulfield Guineas futures markets at Ladbrokes.com.au, the Mutawaajid gelding was fifth in the Blue Diamond last campaign and are second-up here after running third behind Nordic Empire at the Valley last time out.

Outside of the top three in Vain Stakes betting is then a logjam of other runners with genuine claims at juicer odds.

There are six other chances in the race paying between $10 and $15 to win including Debutant Stakes winner at the track back in October Moonlight Hussler ($10), Boomwaa’s stablemate Just For Starters (410), Adelaide visitor Get The Nod ($11) running in Melbourne for the first time and the aforementioned Cornrow at $12 to upstage the its stablemates.

Check out the full Vain Stakes 2014 betting odds below, all prices available online now at Ladbrokes.com.au by following the links to the bookie offering an exclusive PB Lawrence Stakes Refund Bet offer if your horse runs second in Saturday’s feature up to $50!

2014 Vain Stakes Odds