20 VAIN HIS GLORIOUS SPRING OF 1969 Before there was Black Caviar, there was Vain, more than half a century ago now. Peter Pring, a racing history expert of his generation, rated him at the time as ‘one of the best sprinters to have raced in Australia’. No one since would disagree. Compared with Black Caviar’s undefeated record of twenty-five races over four years, Vain retired as a three-yearold with twelve wins, two seconds, from fourteen starts. But, as with Black Caviar, it was the manner of his victories that made him glorious. This spring at Flemington we have been marking the 150th anniversary of the 1876 Melbourne Cup week in which the filly Briseis uniquely won the Derby, Cup and Oaks before finishing second on the final day. This prompted recollection of other runs of Cup Week success. Glencoe in 1868 won five times in three consecutive days, when racing twice on the one day was commonplace. Phar Lap won on each of the four days in 1930 including the Melbourne Cup. By Dr Andrew Lemon GLORIOUS SPRING Vain's
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODA1NTI=