Vain
was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse that dominated Australian
sprint racing in the period 1968-70, and went on to become
a top sire. The chestnut colt by Wilkes out of the Orgoglio
mare Elated won 12 of the 14 races he contested, and ran
second in the other two.
As a two year old he was unbeaten in Melbourne in the
spring of 1968 and autumn of 1969, winning races such
as the VRC Sires Produce. Moving to Sydney he won the
STC Golden Slipper Stakes by 4 lengths, and the AJC Champagne
Stakes by 10 lengths, the later in the fastest time ever
recorded for a two year old over 6 furlongs.
As a three year old he won the VATC Caulfield Guineas
by 3 lengths, then campaigned in the VRC Spring Carnival,
winning over 8 days the Craven A Stakes by 12 lengths,
the VRC Linlithgow Stakes by 6 lengths, and in his final
race carried a record 10 lb over weight-for-age in winning
the 1969 George Adams Handicap. Vain set Australian prize
money records as a two year old and three year old.
Vain was bred and raced by Melbourne brothers Walter,
Fred and George Johnson, and was trained by Jim Moloney
in the Melbourne suburb of Mentone. His normal jockey
was Pat Hyland, who rode him to all his wins.
He was retired to stud at the end of his 3 year old season,
in 1970, when he was injured in a track gallop. He was
placed at Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley where he sired
370 winners, between them winning almost 1,800 races.
Vain sired two Golden Slipper winners and was an Australian
Champion Sire. Vain died in 1991.
Vain was Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in
1969-70.
Major
Racing Wins Maribyrnong
Plate (1968)
VRC Sires Produce Stakes (1969)
Golden Slipper Stakes (1969)
Champagne Stakes (1969)
Freeway Stakes (1969)
Ascot Vale Stakes (1969)
Caulfield Guineas (1969)
Craven A Stakes (1969)
Linlithgow Stakes (1969)
George Adams Handicap (1969)
Honours
Australian Racing Hall of Fame (2003)
Leading sire in Australia (1983-84)
Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year (1969-70)
To
see videos showing just how good he was, click here
