A set of racing silks that had been stored away for decades, came out of mothballs on Saturday when Fleur Fatale won the VOBIS Gold Ingot at Caulfield.

The colours of gold, red striped sleeves, were prominent 30 years ago in the era of Kingston Town, Kingston Rule, Rose of Kingston, Spirit of Kingston, and others all raced by David Hains, and his wife, Helen.

David was missing from Caulfield on Saturday to see Fleur Fatale win, preferring to watch the race in the comfort of his home.

A successful man in business, he applied much the same science into breeding thoroughbred horses.

About the first horse he raced was Zvornik, by Todman, from Rijeka by Rego, trained by Angus Armanasco, quite a useful colt and later a prominent sire in Western Australia.

David remained a private breeder and a selective one, he didn’t want a lot of horses about, he bred in both hemispheres, Kingston Park at Merricks, and Kingston Park in Kentucky.

He had success out of both venues with Kingston Town, being the best horse he bred with three Cox Plates to his credit, 30 wins, only out of a place four times in 41 starts, and the first horse to win a million in stakes.

Rose Of Kingston was a favourite, and for very good reason, she was a rare filly, winning a Derby and two Oaks before going to America where she was ultimately mated with the Triple Crown success, Secretariat.

The foal resulting from the mating was Kingston Rule, bred in America, winner of the 1990 Melbourne Cup, he still holds the time record for the race of 3.16.3 .

Fleur Fatale winning for David Hains