When Vain was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003 it may have been thought the champion’s trainer, Jim Maloney, would have followed during the intervening years.

However that has never happened, Maloney, now in his 89^th year, has been a father figure to so many in the racing industry.

Born in Warrnambool he followed his father, Gerry, as a trainer, his dad won the Grand National Hurdle with Belar in 1933, ridden by the stable jockey, Rupert McInnes.

Young Jim was in no hurry to leave the Western District; he was quite content to remain in Warrnambool for the right horse to come along before he would make a move to Melbourne.

As long as you are prepared to wait for the right horse it will eventually come along, it did for Jim when Swynphilos won a Maiden Handicap at Hamilton.

After he won the Newmarket Handicap the following year with Swyphilos, you couldn’t hold Jim down any longer, Epsom would be his base and nothing has changed.

He was good for Epsom and Epsom was good to him, he trained a lot of winners there, “Vain” had no peer, when the track was finally closed it was a sad day for racing and a dedicated group of loyal supporters.

Several trainers relocated to other areas while others just closed up shop, Jim Maloney retired a popular and humble figure, an ornament to the racing industry and worthy of the utmost recognition.

Vain Queen had a bit on those she met in the All Victorian Handicap at Flemington, coming away to win in a breeze.

She returns to headquarters again on Saturday week for the Sprint Series final, and whilst the distance is a further 100 metres that should not unduly bother her.

Her trainer, John Sadler, was singing her praises, he thought the firmer ground may have found her out, but that was not the case, she has won six of her eight starts.

There are no plans beyond the final, a spell would be the way to go as there is not much coming up for her at present.

An opportunity at Black Type is the ultimate aim; it would increase her value as a potential brood mare.

She is by Artie Schiller, a former talented race horse who shuttles from the U S, he has proved quite a success here, unfortunately he had to be taken out of service last season due to receiving a kick.

There is a strong female family to back her up, when retired she would a be fine acquisition to any stud, her dam, Our Teneriffe by Kenvain, was not always mated to the best of sires, yet her five foals to race have all won races.

Vain Queen wins with ease

Aeratus atoned for his narrow defeat at Flemington, at the hands of Wrotham Heath two weeks ago, when he skipped away in the straight to win the Provincial Plate in the easiest possible fashion.

There is quite a contrast between both races, he was just grinding away when he ran second, this time, on Saturday, he was explosive.

Dean Yendall had him closer to the pace than previously, he was perched there right at the business end of affairs; no starts were given away this time.

Aeratus - No doubt this time

The gelding is racing consistently proving, a great money spinner for his owners, Frank and Karen Butler, they also bred the son of Magnus.

There was a touch of nostalgia associated with the win, whilst they race several horses in partnership with others; they are the sole owners of Aeratus.

The gelding carried the colours of Frank’s late father, Noel, the pale blue, navy blue stars, red sleeves and cap.

Aeratus’s success took his record to five wins from 10 starts, a fifty per cent strike rate that would be the dream of every owner.

The win provided Caulfield trainer, Mick Price, with the quinella, as he also prepared Harveys True Heart, whilst he hasn’t the same strike rate as his stable mate, he is not far off a win.

Karen and Frank Butler with  Aeratus 

Refulgent showed his rivals the way home at Flemington on Saturday in winning the Brian Beattie Handicap, but still has a long way to go before he can be compared with the horse that bore that name a long time ago.

The original Refulgent was bred by Cec Barnes, a successful breeder at his Canning Downs property, on the fertile lands of the Darling Downs in Queensland; he was by Dalray whose single Melbourne Cup win ranks as the best performance in the post war era.

Refulgent won in all 13 races, from 1000 metres to 2400 metres, his stake earnings were a paltry $ 28,468, a meagre amount compared to the horse of the same name who has earned $125,900, from three wins and four placings.

That amount will surely be exceeded as the present Refulgent looks a pretty handy horse on what we saw of him at Flemington.

He is going to get further than Saturday’s 1610 metres, coming to the final turn there was little behind him, he had to do it the hard way.

Brad Rawiller rode to plan, allowing the horse to settle down before calling on him for what was a huge run and a great win.

Former New Zealander, Pharrell, is not far off winning a race here, he was making up good ground in the run home at only his second start since coming over from the shaky isles, he is in the stable of former crack jumps jockey, Nick Hartnett.

Refulgent surging to the lead 

Untapable wins Mother Goose

Kentucky Oaks success, Untapable, produced a brilliant performance to win the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park, New York, by nine and a quarter lengths

Jockey Club Tirade

George Margarson has hit out at the Jockey Club Racecourses following the death of Artful Lady at Warwick, where racing resumes next week, after the realigned sprint track won the backing of jockeys on Thursday of last week.

H B A Will Investigate Unsaddling Issue

The HBA, the ruling body in the U K, is to establish whether there was a breach of conditions when a licenced trainer was joined by his father in the unsaddling enclosure at Newcastle last Friday evening.

Another Derby For Aidan O’Brien

Aidan O’Brian collected his 11^th Irish Derby Trophy when Australia proved once again that he is a wonder horse, winning with his head virtually on his chest.