Unbeaten colt Jukebox will have his next race start in the 2017 Danehill Stakes after he returned to the races with an impressive victory in the 2017 Vain Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon.

Jukebox timed his run to perfection to win the Vain Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Jukebox timed his run to perfection to win the Vain Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Plutocracy kicked clear at the top of the straight and looked as though he had the race won, but Jukebox ran some very impressive closing sectionals to finish over the top of his rival.

Jukebox won his first two starts as a two-year-old before he was controversially scratched from the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes after showing signs of lameness and trainer Ciaron Maher was clearly delighted to see the talented colt return to the races with a win.

“He had a good long break and he has come back really well,” Maher said.

“He has had a very smooth campaign and it is a credit to the stable.

“He is in really good form and you love to see a three-year-old colt return like that.

“On Tuesday morning he really put the writing on the wall.”

Maher confirmed that Jukebox will have his next race start in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in three weeks, but he is yet to decide whether the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) or the Group 1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) is the major Spring Racing Carnival for the three-year-old.

“We will just see how he comes through his next start,” Maher said.

“There are a lot of options for him.

“He has kicked off in great style and we are very happy.”

Plutocracy gave Lindsay Park their second second place finish in as many races and the two leading horses put a clear gap on the rest of the Vain Stakes field.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.