A strong field has been assembled for the Vain Stakes (1100m) this Saturday at Caulfield, where the depth looks strong.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 Vain Stakes.
2025 Vain Stakes Runner Preview:
1. Tycoon Star: The market will be fascinating with him because on paper, he looks ready to rock and roll with two jumpouts under the belt and each time has looked sharp, plus is the class factor and Zahra riding. He can win for sure.
2. Shining Smile: Shining Smile is a beauty for Team Hayes and is one of the leading contenders. He is four weeks between runs since a first-up win down the straight at Flemington where he continued his love affair with the short course and the Flemington straight when an impressive winner.
3. McGaw: SCR
4. Shaggy: His best would go close but he was very good early on in the Autumn… his form has sort of dipped away since and with that, I can’t have him.
5. Jimmy Recard: Jimmy Recard has been given a mini freshen up for Ciaron Maher, his last run coming on July 5 when a strong winner of the Next Gen Final down the straight at Flemington. Has jumped out well since and should be strong late.
6. Sonofkirk: He’s dangerous. Already a winner at the track and looks as though he will be strong late. My question with him is the form around him. He just ran down Oyster Lane, who has been solid in weak races since. I prefer to watch.
7. Express Class: I thought he was flattered on debut at Sandown when winning given he found the wider lanes, best ground and finished over the top. He’s not measuring up here IMO.
8. Hay Street: Gee I reckon the market has completely missed one. Hay Street did some really nice things as a juvenile and has strong form lines around him from the Autumn, especially the debut at Newcastle when narrowly beaten by Buffalo. He has looked strong in trial work in Sydney to prepare for the return and this isn’t a deep race.
2025 Vain Stakes $100 Betting Strategy:
$20 Win / $80 Place Hay Street Tote/SP
Vain Stakes Odds
Vain Stakes Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TYCOON STAR | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Mark Zahra | 2 | 58kg |
| 2 | SHINING SMILE | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Daniel Stackhouse | 5 | 57kg |
| 4 | SHAGGY | Allan Kehoe | Ben Melham | 3 | 56kg |
| 5 | JIMMY RECARD | Ciaron Maher | Ms Jamie Melham | 1 | 56kg |
| 6 | SONOFKIRK | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Jye McNeil | 8 | 56kg |
| 7 | EXPRESS CLASS | Gerard Moloney | Patrick Moloney | 4 | 56kg |
| 8 | HAY STREET | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Ethan Brown | 6 | 56kg |
2025 Vain Stakes Speed Map
Shaggy looks your comfortable leader with the early speed he has got. I think Shining Smile will lob outside him and potentially stablemate Tycoon Star can settle handy too.