Black Caviar is often compared with sprinting great Vain, however, it is not widely known that the record breaking mare is in fact related to him.

Vain was an extremely talented sprinter who won 12 of his 14 race starts, and the racing champion just so happens to be Black Caviar’s great grandfather on one side, and  great-great grandfather on the other.

Eurora studmaster, Tim Johnson, was 12 years old when his grandfather Walter bred and raced Vain with other family members.

Mr Johnson believes that the similarities between Black Caviar and Vain are very obvious.

“(Black Caviar’s) got a high cruising speed and makes it look effortless, just like Vain did,” Mr Johnson said.

The studmaster said that it is thanks to his grandfather that Black Caviar was even able to be born, after he made what he now realised was a momentous decision when Vain was a yearling.

“He gelded all his horses but he liked Vain so much as a type he decided not to,” Mr Johnson said.

Mr Johnson is constantly following the success of Vain’s offspring and finds many top horses that feature his genes.

“If you keep checking the pedigrees of top horses his name keeps appearing regularly,” he said.

Names such as Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily and star sprinter Starspangledbanner also feature Vain in their pedigree.

“It’s an amazing effort by him when you consider his books of mares in those days were between 45 and 60,” Mr Johnson said.

“The top broodmare sires of today, like Danehill and Encosta De Lago, served five times that amount.”