Vain Stakes - 2020 - Back A Winner

2020 Vain Stakes Race Details

Race 5 at Caulfield on Saturday 15 August 2020 is the Group 3 Vain Stakes.

The Vain Stakes is an 1100 metre set weights and penalties race for three-year-old colts and geldings run by the Melbourne Racing Club at Caulfield. It is held during August on PB Lawrence Stakes day.

You can read more about the race history, lead-up races and past winners on the Vain Stakes page.

Vain Stakes 2020 Preview

Track: Soft Weather: Showers

There are 9 runners for the $160,000 Vain Stakes. Six runners are having their first start from a spell while the other three have recently had their first race start. The early favourite is Hydro Star who has had one run for a 2 length win and carries less weight here. Second favourite is Rulership who won his very first start and resumes here after winning a trial. Third favourite is Ranting who resumes and placed in both starts last campaign.

Larimer Street had a win and three places from five starts last campaign. Our Playboy has won two of his four starts. The Cruiser finished strongly for third at his debut a fortnight ago. Lunar Fox has two wins from six starts, while Branders Rule won his only start before a 12 week break. Keep On Fighting ran 5th at his only start and is the outsider of the field currently at 70 to 1.

2020 Vain Stakes Runner by Runner

1. Lunar Fox

This Foxwedge colt had 6 races as a two-year-old for two wins, including the Group 2 Sires Produce in March. He has changed trainers and may need a couple of runs to get going.

2. Larimer Street

He had five starts last season and was unlucky not to win at his debut as he was severely checked. He ran 2nd in the Sires Produce then won the Listed St Albans Stakes before finishing well back in the Group 1 ATC Sires Produce, after which he was spelled. One of the main chances.

3. Rulership

At his first start he won by 2.3 lengths over 1000m at Randwick, then ran a close 2nd in the Blue Diamond Prelude. In the Group 1 Blue Diamond he finished 3.8 lengths 8th but pulled up lame. He won a Randwick trial by 2.5 lengths at the end of July and should be in the finish.

4. Our Playboy

He had four starts as a two-year-old and won the last two at Terang then Sandown Hillside. He resumes here after 15 weeks and is not the worst.

5. Ranting

Sired by Zoustar, this colt was a close 2nd over 1100m at Caulfield on debut, then ran 3rd in the Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes over 1200m at Morphettville at his only other start. It wouldn’t surprise to see him run a place again.

6. Hydro Star

At his only start, this colt jumped awkwardly, settled last, got off balance and was four deep at the turn. He still managed to charge to the fronyt at the 200m and got stronger to the linefor a 2 length win over 100m at Sandown Hillside on 22 July. He looks to have heaps of ability and could win again here.