Three-year-old stakes racing kicks off for the new season on Saturday with the two Victorian options being fertile ground for future Group One stars.
Caulfield sees the Group III Vain Stakes for the colts and Group III Quezette Stakes for the fillies.
In recent years the Vain Stakes has produced:
2016 – Russian Revolution went on to win the Group I Galaxy the following autumn then the Oakleigh Plate before retiring to stud.
2019 – Bivuoac who followed up with a in in the Group I Golden Rose, then the Newmarket.
2022 – Giga Kick famously went on to win The Everest (pre-Group I) but subsequently took two Group Ones in the All-Aged Stakes and Doomben 10,000.
2023 – Cylinder who won the Nemarket as a three-year-old the following autumn.
Click here for the Vain Stakes field and form.
The Quezette saw Champion three-year-old filly Sunlight win in 2019 before going on to take the Coolmore Stud Stakes, Newmarket and William Reid in a stunning three year-old season.
Bella Nipotina won it in 2020, subsequently winning The Everest, Doomben 10,000 and Tatt’s Tiara in her storied career.
And in 2023 it was Charmstone who went on to win last year’s Goodwood in South Australia.
Click here for the Quezette field and form.
In Sydney it's the Listed Rosebud featuring the return of Skyhook, Blitzburg and Pallaton.
The honour roll doesn’t have the strength of the Victorian races although Paulele won it in 2021 and went on to win at Group One level.
There’ll be plenty of interest this year however with colts like Skyhook, Blitzburg and race favourite Pallaton all looking to have the potential to reach the top.
