Legless Veuve is tracking beautifully towards a Group 1 run against the boys in next month’s Australian Guineas 2017 after the Stuart Webb-trained filly won the Ladbrokes Manfred Stakes over the weekend.
Ladbrokes Manfred Stakes winner Legless Veuve targets the 2017 Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 4. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Going out as an $18 roughie in betting, the progressive daughter of Pins posted her third career win at start number six with an upset in the $150,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield Racecourse.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, she looked to have plenty left in the tank late after her three-quarter length success over the Team Hawkes-trained Into Orbit ($7.50) with Hey Doc ($4.60) running third for Tony McEvoy.
“We obviously went steady in the lead but she’s got a lot of improvement in her,” Zahra told the media post-win on Saturday.
“She wanted to race keenly a little bit, but from the 600 metres I allowed her to stride, she was head and head with the leader [Into Orbit] and was too good in the end.”
After being the sole female running in the Manfred Stakes, Webb has a run against a field of fellow fillies scheduled next-up for Legless Veuve in the $150,000 Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 18.
She will then return to the Flemington track on March 4 and take on the colts and geldings in the $750,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
“The progression she’s made from last prep to this campaign is outstanding, she’s really developed,” Webb said of Legless Veuve.
“She’s clean winded, athletic, has a pedigree, is a beautiful type and has a race record to prove it.”
“I think she’ll be one of the nicest four-year-old mares you’ll see.”
Legless Veuve was tested in elite level company last October, but failed when crossed dead last (16th) behind Global Glamour in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
Her Manfred Stakes success first-up though indicates she has come back in fine order this Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
Webb has saddled up just one other runner in an Australian Guineas field.
Legless Veuve will be out to become the first filly to take out the mile classic since Shamrocker (2011) and Mosheen (2012) went back-to-back.
Both had their final lead-ups in The Vanity running fourth and second respectively.
Futures Australian Guineas odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have the Chris Waller-trained Omei Sword as the $9 favourite.
The Golden Rose runner-up returns this weekend in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) after a slight muscle issue saw her scratched from last Saturday’s Eskimo Prince Stakes.
Legless Veuve meanwhile can be found further down the all-in Australian Guineas betting markets at $15.
Check out the full Australian Guineas 2017 odds and other Group 1 race markets for the autumn online now at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
2017 Ladbrokes Manfred Stakes Results
Caulfield Racecourse – 04/02/2017
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | LEGLESS VEUVE (NZ) | Stuart Webb | Mark Zahra | – | 9 | 56kg | $18 |
| 2 | 11 | INTO ORBIT | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 0.75L | 8 | 56kg | $7.50 |
| 3 | 2 | HEY DOC | Tony McEvoy | Luke Currie | 1.5L | 5 | 58kg | $4.60 |
| 4 | 6 | DERRYN | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Regan Bayliss | 1.8L | 2 | 56kg | $4F |
| 5 | 1 | MORTON’S FORK | John O’Shea | Craig Williams | 3.05L | 1 | 58kg | $5 |
| 6 | 9 | WAZZENME | Stuart Webb | Luke Nolen | 4.8L | 10 | 56kg | $11 |
| 7 | 8 | MANOLO BLAHNIQ (NZ) | Tony Noonan | Jake Noonan | 4.9L | 7 | 56kg | $9.50 |
| 8 | 4 | INSIDE AGENT (NZ) | Nigel Blackiston | Kerrin McEvoy | 6.65L | 3 | 58kg | $20 |
| 9 | 3 | TRENCHANT | John O’Shea | Ben Melham | 6.75L | 4 | 58kg | $71 |
| 10 | 10 | BALLET MASTER (NZ) | Pat Hyland | Craig Newitt | 13.75L | 6 | 56kg | $31 |
| – | 12 | CASQUE | Robbie Laing | Michael Dee | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 7 | GRATWICK | Darren Weir | Damien Oliver | – | 0 | – | – |
