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I was there when …
The fact that the G1 Patinack Farm Classic (WFA, 1200m) at Flemington didn’t live up to its billing as the “clash of the sprinting titans” meant very little. In the end it was still one of those rare “I was there when” experiences in racing.
I was there when Vain won the Patinack Farm Classic (Craven ‘A’ Stakes) – albeit then a handicap run on Derby day – by 12 lengths from Our Faith in 1969. The brilliant chestnut colt blitzed his rivals in a display of speed I haven’t seen since.
Vain went on to win the G2 Linlithgow Stakes (WFA, 1400m) on Oaks day and backed up two days later to win what is now known as the Emirates Stakes (1600m), carrying 5kg more than weight-for-age.
My brother, Kerry, and I stood on the famous Flemington lawn and, bouncing on the balls of our feet to see, watched Vain streak away from his opposition. It was spine-tingling and unforgettable. Jockey Pat Hyland later said, “I just grab on to a clump of mane and hang on, if I don’t I could I fall out the back.”
Black Caviar’s exhibition today came close to giving me the same chill and thrill. When jockey Ben Melham clicked her up at the 300 metres, the big mare lowered her head, lengthened her stride and put three lengths on a field of great sprinters. What a horse.
The much-awaited clash with Hay List didn’t eventuate when the big horse from the west flopped, finishing sixth, 11 lengths behind the winner. Hay List, the winner of 12 of 14 starts before today, was off his game today after a serious of minor setbacks, and while jockey Glyn Schofield offered no excuses, expect Hay List will return to be a more formidable rival in the autumn.
Vain, a chucky chestnut ball of muscle, was physically nothing like Black Caviar, now unbeaten in eight starts; she possesses a cruising speed I have only seen in Vain. She’s a monster mare, almost 600kg, with a monster stride. For all her size, her movement is effortless and carried her clear of the pack with ease.
Melham, having his first ride on her following Luke Nolen’s suspension, has a first Group 1 win to remember. Scarily, he said after the race, “I didn’t find the bottom of her, she did it easily.” Her time of 1min 7.96secs was .086secs outside Iglesia’s 2001 course record –– on a track that was well away from fast.
Trainer Peter Moody, his voice hoarse from cheering, was quick to rebut any suggestions that the mare now HAS to go overseas. “Bugger overseas,” he said, “let them come here and take us on.”
Moody followed up with a dig at this week’s sale of So You Think to the Irish: “We have just lost one champion to overseas. Let’s keep this horse here for everyone to enjoy. She’ll put bums on seats.”
However, Moody did concede that a trip to Dubai for the Dubai Sprint (1200m) on World Cup night at Meydan late in March is a prospect, but only after Black Caviar tackles the Melbourne autumn sprints, kicking off with the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (WFA, 1000m) at Flemington in February – and a return clash with Hay List and the brilliant colt Star Witness, who ran a wonderful race to finish a clear second to the mare – well clear of the Group 1 winners Ortensia and All Silent.
The connections of Hay List and Star Witness may prefer to dodge Black Caviar, and the thought of a Royal Ascot campaign without her sharing the plane will appeal to them. Go to England to dodge the local champ!
Star Witness is an exceptional talent. He backed up from his Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby day win with another outstanding performance. It took an exceptional horse to beat him. He’s only three, but he has a lot to offer. He, too, will be a better horse in the autumn. Unfortunately, trainer Danny O’Brien knows the colt is a duffer around turns (despite his Blue Diamond win at Caulfield), so he is restricted to racing the horse down the Flemington straight – of course, all the big Group 1 sprints are run on straight tracks in England.
There is a twist in the comparisons of Black Caviar to Vain (by Wilkes (FR)), as she is inbred 3×4 to the great horse. He’s the reason for the scintillating speed, and other breeders with mares with a hint of Vain in the bloodlines should look at Bel Esprit as a mate.
Black Caviar’s sire, the Eliza Park-based Bel Esprit (by Royal Academy (USA)) is from the Vain mare Bespoken. Black Caviar’s dam Helsinge (by Desert Sun (GB)) is from Song Of Norway, a daughter of Vain.
Eliza Park, Kerrie, near Romsey, also stands Black Caviar’s close relation Magnus, the Group 1 winning son of Flying Spur and Helsinge’s dam, Scandinavia. Breeders with Bel Esprit mares should consider Magnus as a likely mate for the mares to get another source of doubling Vain and at the same time reverse Black Caviar’s pedigree.
I too was in the stands at Flemington the day Vain won the Craven A Stakes (as well as his next two equally dominant wins).
I have not seen the likes since….until Black Caviar – what a mare!
Interesting to read of the Vain progeny in her bloodlines.
Thanks for the reply Brendan. Yes, three great wins – 1200m, 1400m, 1600m – in week against the best opposition (and a spring 3YO against older horses) made Vain extra special. Black Caviar has a similar raw, explosive talent, but they are very different horses. When she has Vain’s record, then I will concede she is better.
Haven’t seen a cruisey win like Black Caviar since Vain, who was an absolute champion at 2 and 3yo. Sadly we didn’t him seen after that.
OK … will concede that Luskin Star and Rancher (and others) were exceptional juveniles but what next? Vain stood up after his initial campaign to win 3 Group 1 events in 8 days, challenging Phar Lap’s efforts during a spring carnival.
Good research equation …in today’s terms, what would Vain’s prizemoney be?
Not detracting from Black Caviar, who is an exceptional mare, but (some 40 years on) just have to say on reflection, WOW … Black Caviar is awesome, but how good was Vain? Imagine him spanking the UK and US if we had travelled during that era.
2011 and I’m lovin’ Aussies doing it abroad. Go us!
Pedantic, I know, but the Linlithgow Stks on Oaks Day (no longer exists) was always regarded as a G2 race, so Vain won 2xG1 and 1xG2 in a week – monumental anyway. Vain remains the benchmark. If Black Caviar can win her next five G1 races on in a row, by the end of the season her record will be 14 starts, six G1s – unbeaten. Overseas later this year – HK or Japan – and almost certainly Royal Ascot in 2012.
hey racing is different now than it was in Vains’ days. they dont back up like they used to – i reckon everything that Vain raced against was probably backing up within the week too… but yeah go us!.. mighty filly i hope she proves herself.
She reminds me of Placid Ark – the way she gets away from top company without looking like she’s trying to. amazing
Yes, she is like Placid Ark, except that PA raced full of cortico steroids, Depo Medrol I believe, when he won his string of G1 races. Certainly, horses raced more often in Vain’s days, the domination of the Northern Dancer bloodlines has changes the breed these days, but I don’t know of many sprinters that raced three times in week; some stayers did – Mackinnon Stakes, Melbourne Cup and C B Fisher Plate – but very rare for a sprinter to race 1200m, 1400m and 1600m, and win!
true danny true. poor old PA wasnt the soundest of creatures was he.. I was at belmont when he won the beaufine over 1000 after a long break carrying the grandstand. gotta love good racing