Classy five-year-old Vain Queen has returned to the winner’s circle in style on Crown Oaks Day at Flemington this afternoon; displaying an exceptional turn of foot to comfortable take out the Group 3 G.H. Mumm Stakes (1100m) by five lengths.
Vain Queen has taken out the 2014 G.H. Mumm Stakes in impressive fashion. Photo: Sarah Ebbett
Jumping from the gates well, Vain Queen was settled off the pace of early leaders Minaj, Rebel Bride and Bounding by champion jockey Damien Oliver, allowing his mare to find a good racing rhythm early.
Steadily moving closer to the race’s leaders with 500m to run, the Artie Schiller mare mustered an incredible kick to explode from the pack and pull comfortably clear at the 200m mark; extending further to find the line five lengths in the clear of Bounding; Lilliburlero and Shamal Wind drawing for third place.
Oliver secured a race double having taken out the Group 3 Gucci Stakes aboard Onemorezeta, and was thrilled to deliver trainer John Sadler a race win on 2014 Crown Oaks Day.
“I just needed a bit of daylight and she just exploded,” Oliver said after crossing the line.
“She’s got a great turn of foot on her this mare, if you can smother her up like we did today and then she sees daylight she really lets go for you.
“He’s a great trainer, John Sadler; I’ve known him since I was a boy and great to ride a winner for him.”
Sadler was understandably thrilled with Vain Queen’s 2014 G.H. Mumm Stakes win, and is confident she is capable of success at the highest level of Australian racing in the not-too-distant future.
“I thought she had to bring her best performance here because it could have been close to a Group 2, this was a serious race with very good mares in form,” Sadler said following the race.
“She really likes the straight, just today she was very calm and seemed to be in the zone today as if she was looking forward to it.
“I said to Thomas my son when she walked around in the mounting yard ‘surely that’s the best she’s ever looked’ and I was hoping she would just win, but to win like that was so exciting.
“She’s shown today that maybe at some stage there might even be a Group 1 in her.
“I was a little bit concerned she might have been running through the bridle a little bit too hard, but she’s done that once before here, she’s won four out of five up the straight now but one of them was a really good win, but that doesn’t top today.”
Adding a seventh race win to a career which has spanned only eleven competitive starts so far, the next point of call for Vain Queen is yet to be determined.
Punters who backed Vain Queen to win the 2014 G.H. Mumm Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au and had signed up for a Ladbrokes Card will already have access to their winnings.
2014 G.H. Mumm Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | VAIN QUEEN | John Sadler | Damien Oliver | – | 6 | 55kg | $4.80 |
| 2 | 5 | BOUNDING | Ken & Bev Kelso | Mark Du Plessis | 3.5L | 10 | 57.5kg | $4.60F |
| 3 | 7 | LILLIBURLERO | David Payne | Tim Clark | 3.6L | 12 | 57.5kg | $15 |
| 3 | 4 | SHAMAL WIND | Robert Smerdon | Nicholas Hall | 3.6L | 9 | 57.5kg | $4.80 |
| 5 | 13 | CRADLE ME | David Pfieffer | Tommy Berry | 4.6L | 8 | 55kg | $9.50 |
| 6 | 20e | COUNTED (NZ) | Colin & Cindy Alderson | Michael Rodd | 5.35L | 13 | 55kg (cd 55.5kg) | $81 |
| 7 | 1 | MIRACLES OF LIFE | Peter & Paul Snowden | Hugh Bowman | 5.85L | 3 | 59kg | $8 |
| 8 | 14 | KRISTY LEE | Chris Waller | Glen Boss | 5.95L | 1 | 55kg | $41 |
| 9 | 3 | REBEL BRIDE | Leon & Dean Wells | Dwayne Dunn | 6.05L | 7 | 57.5kg | $31 |
| 10 | 2 | GREGERS | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | Craig Williams | 6.15L | 2 | 59kg | $14 |
| 11 | 12 | BRILLIANT BISC | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 6.35L | 11 | 55.5kg | $71 |
| 12 | 16 | VAIN ATTRACTION | Darren Weir | Ben Melham | 6.55L | 4 | 55kg | $41 |
| 13 | 6 | SPIRITS DANCE | Peter G Moody | Chad Schofield | 10.8L | 14 | 57.5kg | $26 |
| 14 | 8 | MINAJ (NZ) | Anthony Freedman | Mark Zahra | 11.2L | 5 | 56.5kg | $81 |
