The latest edition of the Vain Stakes ran on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at Caulfield Racecourse as a lead-up to the Group 1 spring races for three-year-old horses and was won in a gutsy return to form by the Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained Hard Kick ($7).
The Vain Stakes launches Melbourne’s three‑year‑old sprinting season in style, and punters chasing the latest Vain Stakes odds, sharp Vain Stakes tips, and a full breakdown of the Vain Stakes field turn to Ladbrokes for the strongest early‑spring betting insights. Run over 1100m at Caulfield, this Group 3 is a proven springboard for colts heading toward major stallion‑making races, regularly attracting explosive first‑uppers, elite trial performers and emerging short‑course talents capable of producing serious sectionals fresh. With tempo, barrier draws, track pattern and proven Caulfield sprint form all shaping the contest, the Vain Stakes is one of the most influential early‑season form races — and a prime betting opportunity for punters looking to get on before the market tightens.
Check the latest markets, assess the key contenders and lock in your Vain Stakes bet with Ladbrokes, where smart punters get on first.
2026 Vain Stakes Results
The official Vain Stakes 2026 Results & Finishing Order will be announced below once the Group 3 race is run and won on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
- #3 Hard Kick
- #8 Organised Crime
- #7 Confederation
Hard Kick ($7) bounced straight back into form at Caulfield, dictating the 2026 Vain Stakes from the outset and proving far too tough late to secure his second stakes victory. The Lindsay Park colt, an All Too Hard three‑year‑old, rolled to the front under Damian Lane and travelled like the winner throughout, turning back the challenge of Organised Crime with Confederation finishing along the rail for third. Co‑trainer Ben Hayes said a gear tweak and extra work between runs helped the colt settle and present more professionally, making the win especially satisfying after his Flemington flop. With two black‑type wins from just three starts, Hard Kick now shapes as one of the more exciting spring sprinters, and the stable is considering a Flemington return and a potential path toward the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on October 31 as his campaign builds.
2026 Vain Stakes Odds & Finishing Order
The best P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day betting markets on the Group 3 Vain Stakes 2026 will be available right here as soon as Vain Stakes betting opens followed by the official finishing order after the event.
Vain Stakes 2026 Results
| 3. Hard Kick (5) J: Damian Lane 57kg 1×6 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 8. Organised Crime (6) J: Ethan Brown 56kg 1 T: Lloyd Kennewell | ||
| 7. Confederation (1) J: Ben Melham 56kg 28x T: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Big Wigs (7) J: Lachlan Neindorf 56kg 221x T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes | ||
| 2. Closer To Free (9) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 120x T: Danny O’brien | ||
| 5. Outspan (3) J: Chad Schofield 56kg 1820x T: Michael Freedman | ||
| 1. Tornado Valley (2) J: Declan Bates 58kg 2268x T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 9. Myhro’s Ruler (8) J: Jamie Mott 56kg 6×1 T: John Mcardle | ||
| 6. Almontego (4) J: Michael Dee 56kg 41 T: Gavin Bedggood |
Vain Stakes Tips
Good Vain Stakes tips to consider before placing your spring bets include looking at resuming runners with a strong record when fresh, past winners over the distance and youngsters with form the Melbourne way of going.
Favourites also have a strong recent record in the race so sticking with the punters’ pick is also a top Vain Stakes betting tip with Tony Nicconi ($2.15 in 2018) and Bivouac ($3 in 2019) going back-to-back for the punters’ picks before the 2023 success of the odds-on elect Cylinder ($1.50). The favourites were also on top in 2025 with Jimmy Recard ($3.60) overcoming interference to still salute.
Ladbrokes Tip: Vain Stakes horses can go on to run in the Coolmore Stud Stakes!
2026 Vain Stakes Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Vain Stakes 2026 betting tips for the Group 3 on PB Lawrence Stakes Day will be detailed below the week of the race.
FULL 2026 PB LAWRENCE STAKES DAY PREVIEW, TIPS & PREDICTIONS
| 2. Closer To Free (9) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 120x T: Danny O’brien |
| 4. Big Wigs (7) J: Lachlan Neindorf 56kg 221x T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
| 9. Myhro’s Ruler (8) J: Jamie Mott 56kg 6×1 T: John Mcardle |
The Vain Stakes is a Group 3 race for three-year-old colts and geldings run during August at Caulfield Racecourse during the early stages of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
Run under set weights plus penalties conditions the race takes place over a short sprint distance of 1100m and offers $200,000 in total prize money. This is one of two Group 3 races on the Caulfield card for PB Lawrence Stakes Day along with the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m), which is the fillies’ equivalent.
The meeting is headlined by the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m). The Vain Stakes is a good early season lead-up for three-year-olds heading towards tougher sprint races over the carnival including the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington Racecourse on Victoria Derby Day. The last horse to complete the Vain Stakes – Coolmore Stud Stakes double was Sepoy (2011).
In 2019 the Vain Stakes winner Bivouac went on to win Sydney’s Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes that preparation and finished runner-up in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. He also returned in the autumn of 2020 to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) down the famous Flemington ‘Straight Six’.
The 2021 Vain Stakes results were franked with the winner Giga Kick going on to win the Group 2 Danehill Stakes next start before his upset success in Sydney’s The Everest (1200m) that spring at 20/1.
Vain Stakes Race Info
- Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026
- Track: Caulfield
- Distance: 1100m
- Conditions: 3YO Colts & Geldings – Set weights plus Penalties
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $200,000
- First Run: 1992
Vain Stakes Betting
Vain Stakes betting markets open the Wednesday before the race following the field and barrier draw for the Group 3 sprint showdown. Each year the Vain Stakes odds are led by resuming three-year-olds with a good first-up record that have previous experience over the distance.
Melbourne runners and past Caulfield performers that had a good two-year-old season last time in also sit high up the race’s betting odds. Upsets are not uncommon and the last winner to jump at double-figures in the Vain Stakes markets was Our Playboy ($12 in 2020).
Bivouac ($3 in 2019), Cylinder ($1.50 in 2023) and Jimmy Recard ($3.60 in 2025) are the latest favourites in Vain Stakes betting to salute for the punters.
Vain Stakes Field
Vain Stakes graduates have a host of next-up options including the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m) at the same track / distance a fortnight later, a double last completed by Gold Symphony (2015). In 2013 the runner-up Fast ‘N’ Rocking also backed up to win the McNeil Stakes two weeks later.
The Vain Stakes race field attracts a line-up of smart young male sprinters heading towards other similar Group events for their age group over the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Most of the three-year-old colts and geldings in the field are contesting the race first-up off a winter spell.
The Vain Stakes nominations close the Monday of race week followed by the release of the final field and barriers on the Wednesday before the Group 3 runs on the Saturday.
2026 Vain Stakes Field
The official Vain Stakes 2026 Final Field & Barrier Draw for the Coolmore Stud Stakes spring lead-up will be published below following acceptances.
The Vain Stakes 2026 final field features a small but class line-up of potential Group 1 bound three-year-olds including the autumn’s Blue Diamond runner-up Closer To Free to be ridden by Mark Zahra from the outside barrier and resuming VOBIS Showdown champ Big Wigs.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Tornado Valley
J: Declan Bates
T: Ciaron Maher |
12268x | C | 2 | 58kg | |
|
2. Closer To Free
J: Mark Zahra
T: Danny O'brien |
120x | C | 9 | 58kg | |
|
3. Hard Kick
J: Damian Lane
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
1x6 | G | 5 | 57kg | |
|
4. Big Wigs
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
221x | C | 7 | 56kg | |
|
5. Outspan
J: Chad Schofield
T: Michael Freedman |
51820x | C | 3 | 56kg | |
|
6. Almontego
J: Michael Dee
T: Gavin Bedggood |
41 | G | 4 | 56kg | |
|
7. Confederation
J: Ben Melham
T: Chris Waller |
28x | C | 1 | 56kg | |
|
8. Organised Crime
J: Ethan Brown
T: Lloyd Kennewell |
1 | C | 6 | 56kg | |
|
9. Myhro's Ruler
J: Jamie Mott
T: John Mcardle |
6x1 | G | 8 | 56kg |
2026 Vain Stakes Nominations
The early Vain Stakes 2026 nominations are taken by Racing Victoria on the Monday of race week and will be detailed below.
Vain Stakes Form Guide
The Vain Stakes form guide is released as soon as the field of final acceptors is out the week of the race and features crucial information including the jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up runs of the horses in the line-up.
The Vain Stakes form has stacked up in other Melbourne Group races many times in recent years including the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington the next month. Jukebox (2017) recently backing up from his Vain Stakes success to run second in the Danehill.
In 2011 Sepoy won the Vain Stakes – Danehill Stakes double and also went on to win three more times later in the Carnival including in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Giga Kick (2022) was the last three-year-old to do the Vain Stakes – Danehill Stakes double. Giga Kick further franked the Vain Stakes form with a win in that year’s The Everest race, while he returned in 2023 for a host more wins including in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes and Doomben 10,000.
More recently the 2021 Vain Stakes winner Ingratiating went on to run third in that year’s Manikato Stakes trifecta.
Another key race to follow the Vain Stakes form line through to is the lucrative Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) held on the Wednesday of the Caulfield Cup Carnival. In 2017 the Vain Stakes winner Jukebox ran second in the Blue Sapphire, while Tony Nicconi ran third in the race a year later following his Vain Stakes success in 2018.
In 2023 the Vain Stakes winner Cylinder went on to win the Group 2 Run To The Rose next-up before a third in the Golden Rose trifecta in Sydney.
2026 Vain Stakes Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Ladbrokes’ Vain Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
COMPLETE 2026 VAIN STAKES FORM GUIDE & RACE COMMENTARY
Past Vain Stakes Results
The Vain Stakes race results have been dominated by single-figure favourites with the most notable recent Vain Stakes winners being Sepoy (2011); Russian Revolution (2016) who went on to win the Group 1 The Galaxy (2017) and Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (2018); and Bivouac (2019) who won that season’s Golden Rose Stakes (2019); and the following year’s Newmarket Handicap (2020).
Subsequent The Everest winner Giga Kick set a new Vain Stakes race record in 2022 winning in 1 minute 02.8 seconds.
Recent Vain Stakes Winners
Recent Vain Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2011 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Third | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hard Kick | Organised Crime | Confederation | 1:04.37 |
| 2025 | Jimmy Recard | Tycoon Star | Express Class | 1:05.29 |
| 2024 | Band Of Brothers | Let’sfacethemusic | Wonder Boy | 1:03.61 |
| 2023 | Cylinder | Ouroboros | I Am Unstoppable | 1:03.1 |
| 2022 | Giga Kick | Alpha One | Millane | 1:02.8 |
| 2021 | Ingratiating | General Beau | Generation | 1:03.9 |
| 2020 | Our Playboy | Ranting | Rulership | 1:04.9 |
| 2019 | Bivouac | Sebrakate | Dirty Work | 1:03.4 |
| 2018 | Tony Nicconi | Long Leaf | Native Soldier | 1:04.8 |
| 2017 | Jukebox | Plutocracy | Poseidon’s Pool | 1:04.8 |
| 2016 | Russian Revolution | Highland Beat | Hardham | 1:05.1 |
| 2015 | Gold Symphony | Top Me Up | Star Planet | 1:04.4 |
| 2014 | Get The Nod | Stingray | Boomwaa | 1:03.8 |
| 2013 | Safeguard | Fast ‘n’ Rocking | Hill Spy | 1:04.8 |
| 2012 | Psychic Mick | Planet Voyage | Free Of Doubt | 1:06.1 |
| 2011 | Sepoy | Golden Archer | Grand Brittania | 1:03.9 |
FAQs
How do I bet on the 2026 Vain Stakes?
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Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.
Which horse will win the 2026 Vain Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Vain Stakes is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out Ladbrokes in the lead up to the race for full form information.
When is the Vain Stakes 2026?
The 2026 Vain Stakes is scheduled to run on Saturday, 15 August 2026 at Caulfield, kicking off Melbourne’s three‑year‑old sprinting season and setting the stage for the first wave of early‑spring form. It is set to take place as Caulfield Race 5 at 2:45pm (AEST).
What is the prize money for the 2026 Vain Stakes?
The 2026 Vain Stakes prize money is set at $200,000 which is paid from 1st to 8th place including $120,000 going to the Vain Stakes winner.
Where is the Vain Stakes 2026?
The 2026 Vain Stakes is set to run a Melbourne's Caulfield Racecourse, home to many iconic races including the Caulfield Cup each October, which is located at Gate 2, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145.
What distance is the Vain Stakes run over?
The Vain Stakes is run over 1100 metres, a sharp Caulfield sprint trip that consistently rewards early speed, race‑day freshness and proven short‑course form. This distance often produces fast, pressure‑on contests, making it a key early‑spring guide for punters assessing emerging three‑year‑old talent.
How many horses run in the Vain Stakes?
The Vain Stakes typically attracts a compact but high‑quality field, with around 10–14 horses lining up most years. As a Group 3 sprint for emerging three‑year‑olds, capacity fields are common, but final numbers depend on how many stables choose to kick off their colts’ and geldings’ spring campaigns at Caulfield. It’s consistently one of the most competitive early‑season form races, drawing talented first‑uppers, sharp trial performers and future Group‑race contenders.
Who won the 2026 Vain Stakes?
The 2026 Vain Stakes was won by three-year-old All Too Hard gelding Hard Kick at $7 for trainers Ben, Will & JD Hayes with jockey Damian Lane aboard on 57kg from barrier 5 to win by 0.35 lengths in a time of 1:04.37 on a Soft (6) track.
Who won the 2025 Vain Stakes?
The 2025 Vain Stakes was won by three-year-old I Am Invincible colt Jimmy Recard at $3.60 favouritism for trainer Ciaron Maher with jockey Jamie Melham in the saddle.