The Vanity Stakes

ZEITUNG winning The Vanity at Flemington in Australia. Picture: Racing Photos

The Vanity Stakes is a Group 3 race for three-year-old fillies run at Flemington conducted by the Victoria Racing Club.

It is run over 1400m and was worth $200,000 in 2024. It was first run in 1986 when won by Bestaburgh.

The Vanity Stakes is run under Set Weights and Penalty conditions and usually attracts a field of good quality fillies.

From the Spring of 2024, it was moved to be run on Victoria Derby day so it was run twice in that year.

Because of the conditions of the race, The Vanity is quite often won by the best fillies in the race.

It was twice run over 1200m in 1990 and at Moonee Valley in 2007. The Vanity was run at Sandown in 1997. The race was upgraded to Group 3 in 2000.

Barb Raider, winner of 2022 Vanity Stakes is the last filly to win the Kewney Stakes double but the race has also produced multiple Group One winners such as Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed (2011) and Australian Guineas winners in Shamrocker (2011) and Mosheen (2012). Other Group One winners to come out of the race include Zarita, Absolutely, Saleous and Universal Queen.

Four have previously completed The Vanity – Kewney Stakes double – Barb Raider (2022), Solicit (2014), Ballet Society (2005), Tennessee Vain (1988). But that is no longer a pattern.

The 2024 Vanity was won by Zeitung from Matisse and Dominetta.