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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