Looking for this year’s Vain Stakes betting tips, field and form? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Vain Stakes 2026 Results
The official 2026 Vain Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, August 15, 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 Coolmore Stud Stakes on October 31 as his campaign builds.
2026 Vain Stakes Odds & Finishing Order
The 2026 Vain Stakes odds give punters an early read on Melbourne’s emerging three‑year‑old sprinters ahead of the 1100m Group 3 at Caulfield, with markets tightening quickly around colts showing sharp trial form, explosive first‑up profiles and proven short‑course talent. As prices shift, the Vain Stakes odds typically favour stables unveiling their spring prospects, while early moves often highlight which runners are forward enough to strike fresh. With barrier draws, tempo, track pattern and Caulfield‑specific sprint form all influencing the market, the latest Vain Stakes odds help punters spot value, identify the key dangers and get on early with Neds before the big money arrives.
The latest Vain Stakes 2026 odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event will be available below.
| 3. Hard Kick (5) J: Damian Lane 57kg 1×6T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 8. Organised Crime (6) J: Ethan Brown 56kg 1T: Lloyd Kennewell | ||
| 7. Confederation (1) J: Ben Melham 56kg 28xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Big Wigs (7) J: Lachlan Neindorf 56kg 221xT: Phillip & Tommy Stokes | ||
| 2. Closer To Free (9) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 120xT: Danny O’brien | ||
| 5. Outspan (3) J: Chad Schofield 56kg 1820xT: Michael Freedman | ||
| 1. Tornado Valley (2) J: Declan Bates 58kg 2268xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 9. Myhro’s Ruler (8) J: Jamie Mott 56kg 6×1T: John Mcardle | ||
| 6. Almontego (4) J: Michael Dee 56kg 41T: Gavin Bedggood |
Vain Stakes 2026 Tips
Our insider 2026 Vain Stakes betting tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview for P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day available on the Neds Blog.
| 2. Closer To Free (9) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 120xT: Danny O’brien |
| 4. Big Wigs (7) J: Lachlan Neindorf 56kg 221xT: Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
| 9. Myhro’s Ruler (8) J: Jamie Mott 56kg 6×1T: John Mcardle |
Run over 1,100 metres, the Vain Stakes is a Group 3 race taking place at Caulfield Racecourse in August each year. With a $200,000 prize purse, it is open to three-year-old colts and geldings and is run at set weights plus penalties.
Other races on the same program at Caulfield on this date include the PB Lawrence Stakes, the Quezette Stakes and the Regal Roller Stakes.
Horses that do well in this race might step-up in distance for Sydney’s Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) or contest the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) back down the Flemington straight on VRC Derby Day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
In 2019 Bivouac became the last horse to do the Vain Stakes – Golden Rose Stakes double. The Vain Stakes – Coolmore Stud Stakes double meanwhile was most recently achieved by Sepoy (2011).
This race gets its name from former champion racehorse Vain. From the races inaugural race until 2012, this race was run as Principal race. Ever since then, it has been run as a Group 3 race.
The 2022 Vain Stakes form was franked with the winner Giga Kick going on to win the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) next start before his historical upset in the The Everest results in Sydney – a race now worth $20 million in prize money.
Vain Stakes 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, August 15, 2026
- Track Location: Caulfield Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 1,100 metres
- Weight Conditions: Set weights (plus penalties)
- Qualification: Three-year-olds (colts and geldings)
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Operator: Melbourne Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $200,000
- Inaugural Race: 1992
- 2026 Vain Stakes Winner: Hard Kick
Vain Stakes Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Vain Stakes, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Vain Stakes |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Vain Stakes. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Vain Stakes. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Vain Stakes, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Vain Stakes, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Vain Stakes to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Vain Stakes to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Vain Stakes to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Vain Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on the Vain Stakes in 2026
- Join up at Neds
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Vain Stakes Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Vain Stakes in 2026
The best way to pick which horse will win the Vain Stakes in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up spring racing form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight each horse will carry.
Additional factors to consider when selecting the Vain Stakes winner include:
- Fresh Start – A lot of horses use this race to mark their return before Spring. Look for horses that had a strong season before they were spelled. Cylinder (2023) was the last first-up Vain Stakes winner.
- Local Youngsters – Look for a horse that did a good campaign as a two-year-old, preferably on Melbourne soil.
- Favourites – Top position has been dominated by favourites and single figure runners in recent years past.
Vain Stakes Favourites 2026
2026 Vain Stakes favourites include Danny O’Brien’s resuming Blue Diamond runner-up Closer To Free, the autumn’s Listed Talindert Stakes champ Hard Kick and Myhros Ruler coming off a six-length win fresh at Echuca.
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 2026 Field
The official 2026 Vain Stakes field of final acceptances will be released on the Wednesday of race week and published in full below.
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 |
Vain Stakes Race Day 2026
The 2026 Vain Stakes takes place as part of the 2026 P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day card at Caulfield on Saturday, August 15, 2026. The other Group status features held at the meeting are the:
- Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m), and the
- Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m).
Vain Stakes 2026 Barrier Draw
The 2026 Vain Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Vain Stakes Field section.
Vain Stakes 2026 Nominations
2026 Vain Stakes nominations close by 12:00 PM on the Monday of race week.
Vain Stakes 2026 Weights
Set weight plus penalties apply to this race. Final 2026 Vain Stakes weights will be announced by 4:00 PM on the Monday of race week with weights on the final acceptors to be published in our above Vain Stakes Field section.
2026 Vain Stakes Topweights:
- No. 1 Tornado Valley (58kg)
- No. 2 Closer To Free (58kg)
Vain Stakes 2026 Acceptances
2026 Vain Stakes final acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and published in our above Vain Stakes Field section.
Vain Stakes 2026 Jockeys
The final riders’ announcement is at 1 PM on the Wednesday of race week with the official 2026 Vain Stakes jockeys published in our above Vain Stakes Field section.
Vain Stakes 2026 Scratchings
2026 Vain Stakes scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Vain Stakes Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Vain Stakes prize purse is worth $200,000 in total, distributed from places first through to eighth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $120,000 |
| 2nd | $36,000 |
| 3rd | $18,000 |
| 4th | $9,000 |
| 5th | $5,000 |
| 6th | $4,000 |
| 7th | $4,000 |
| 8th | $4,000 |
Vain Stakes Race Number 2026
The 2026 Vain Stakes race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 5 at 2:45pm (AEST) on Saturday, August 15, 2026. There are nine races in total that day at Caulfield Racecourse.
Vain Stakes Form Guide 2026
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Vain Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances.
FULL 2026 VAIN STAKES FORM GUIDE & RACE STATS
Vain Stakes Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Vain Stakes live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Vain Stakes Winners
Winners of the Vain Stakes going back to 1999 are displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hard Kick | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Damian Lane | 57 kgs | 1:04.37 |
| 2025 | Jimmy Recard | Ciaron Maher | Jamie Melham | 56 kgs | 1:05.29 |
| 2024 | Band Of Brothers | Dominic Sutton | Damian Lane | 56 kgs | 1:03.61 |
| 2023 | Cylinder | James Cummings | Blake Shinn | 58 kgs | 1:03.14 |
| 2022 | Giga Kick | Clayton Douglas | Craig Williams | 56 kgs | 1:02.81 |
| 2021 | Ingratiating | James Cummings | Damien Oliver | 57 kgs | 1:03.97 |
| 2020 | Our Playboy | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr. | Ben Melham | 56 kgs | 1:04.91 |
| 2019 | Bivouac | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 57 kgs | 1:03.42 |
| 2018 | Tony Nicconi | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Luke Nolen | 55 kgs | 1:04.85 |
| 2017 | Jukebox | Ciaron Maher | Craig Williams | 56.5 kgs | 1:04.87 |
| 2016 | Russian Revolution | Peter & Paul Snowden | Mark Zahra | 55 kgs | 1:05.14 |
| 2015 | Gold Symphony | Peter Moody | Glen Boss | 55 kgs | 1:04.42 |
| 2014 | Get The Nod | Lloyd Kennewell | Joe Bowditch | 55 kgs | 1:03.88 |
| 2013 | Safeguard | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 56.5 kgs | 1:04.87 |
| 2012 | Psychic Mick | Clarken | Chris Symons | 55 kgs | 1:06.13 |
| 2011 | Sepoy | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 58.5 kgs | 1:03.99 |
| 2010 | Toorak Toff | Rick Hore-Lacy | Damien Oliver | 57.5 kgs | 1:07.12 |
| 2009 | Starspangledbanner | Leon Corstens | Danny Nikolic | 56.5 kgs | 1:04.10 |
| 2008 | Fernandina | Leon Corstens | Vlad Duric | 55 kgs | 1:05.14 |
| 2007 | Shrewd Rhythm | Greg Eurell | Chris Symons | 57.5 kgs | 1:03.40 |
| 2006 | Haradasun | Tony Vasil | Nash Rawiller | 54 kgs | 1:03.51 |
| 2005 | Red Dazzler | Mick Price | Danny Nikolic | 56 kgs | 1:13.73 |
| 2004 | Zankel | Brian Mayfield-Smith | Steven King | 54 kgs | 1:12.69 |
| 2003 | Lisboa Stand | Rick Hore-Lacy | Greg Childs | 55 kgs | 1:10.38 |
| 2002 | Delago Brom | Tommy Hughes (Snr) | Steven Arnold | 55 kgs | 1:10.10 |
| 2001 | North Boy | Tony McEvoy | Damien Oliver | 57 kgs | 1:12.88 |
| 2000 | Surtees | Jan Bowman | Bruce MacDonald | 54 kgs | 1:12.95 |
| 1999 | Dandy Kid | Robbie Griffiths | Rikki Cartwright | 56 kgs | 1:13.80 |