Vain’s Race career
Vain won the Golden Slipper by four lengths, and was a shock loser in the Sires’ Produce to end his unbeaten run. He then came out and won the Champagne Stakes by a staggering 10 lengths in the fastest 1200m ever run by a two year old. Vain retired in January, 1969 with 12 Group wins from the 800m of the Debutante Stakes to the 1600m of the Caulfield Guineas.
Vain’s Pedigree
He was by the imported French stallion, Wilkes out of the Orgoglio mare, Elated. Wilkes had won two stakes races in France over 1500m and 2000m but was by the a son of the speed influence, Court Martial. He was Champion Sire in the UK on six occasions, and was also their leading sire of 2yo’s. Both stallions produced a number of influential sire sons.
Vain’s dam Elated was a half sister to Picca, winner of the 1965 VRC Craven A Stakes, now the Victoria Racing Club Stakes and a race that Vain also won. His second dam, Rarcamba was also a half sister to another stakes winner in Denhoti who won the Goodwood, the VATC Debutante Stakes and the Merson Cooper, again races later won by Vain.
Vain At Stud
At stud though, Vain was to become the first Golden Slipper winner to win the overall Champion Sires Title, although he did not achieve this until the 1983/84 season, some fourteen years after he was retired to stud. He sired a total of 44 stakes winners. Among these were such quality horses as County, Mistress Anne, Kingston Heritage, Kenmark, Purpose, Top Post, Vain Display, Vaindarra and Whinavi.
Vain also produced two Golden Slipper winners in 1983 with Sir Dapper, and 1984 with Inspired.
Vain’s Legacy
Vain’s sons hardly had the same impact at stud, although a number like County in particular were solid producers. His daughters have had a more lasting impact. Stakes winners that have Vain as their damsire include siblings Centro and Dr Zackary and full brothers, Jetball and Marwina. Centro, Jetball and Marwina all went on to moderately successful stud careers. Other runners from daughters of Vain include Proven Valour, Centaine, Excited Angel, Chief De Beers, Golden Sword, Keltrice, Kenvain, Mother Duck, Office, Scandinavia and Bel Esprit. In fact, current stallion Bel Esprit’s best runner to date in Bel Mer sees Vain appear duplicated 3x4 in her pedigree through his daughter Bespoken and his son, Sir Dapper. This trend will no doubt see Vain continue to play an important role in thoroughbred pedigrees.
Ross Prowd - Ross Prowd is a freelance racing journalist in Australia, as well as being a renowned pedigree expert. He writes weekly for Australia's ...
