VAIN
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)
