Caulfield’s Stuart Webb is likely to give his filly Legless Veuve an early Adelaide run on Saturday as a precursor to next month’s Robert Sangster Stakes 2017.
Legless Veuve targets the 2017 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide on May 6. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The three-year-old daughter of Pins is a dual nominee across two states on the weekend and hasn’t raced since finishing last (16th) to Hey Doc at Flemington on March 4 in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
Webb is hoping his Group 2 winner can bounce back as she gears up for another elite level run this time against the older mares at Morphettville on May 6 in the $1 million Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).
He has thrown an entry in for Legless Veuve in both the $120,000 Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and the $110,000 Listed Redelva Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville this Saturday.
The Adelaide run is the preferred option to give the filly her first look around the track ahead of the Robert Sangster Stakes, a race no filly has won since Rostova (2010).
“I will probably accept for both Adelaide and Caulfield but I am probably leaning towards running there [Adelaide],” he told Racing Victoria.
“If she runs up to or above expectations, she can run in the Sangster in another two weeks.”
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Group 1 winner English sits top of the all-in Robert Sangster Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $4.
She was last seen running two and a half-lengths away sixth behind Tivaci in last Saturday’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, a race she won as a filly last autumn.
Shane Nichols’ Myer Classic winning filly from last spring in Melbourne, I Am A Star ($5) is the other early favourite in pre-field Robert Sangster Stakes betting with her last start producing an eighth to It’s Somewhat in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
Another key Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival contender for Webb in the coming weeks who races this weekend is Ana Royale.
The Anacheeva filly has run second in her two latest runs in Victoria, most recently beaten by just a short half-head over 2000m at Ballarat on March 26.
The previous run at Moonee Valley saw her finish second to Montoya’s Secret over the Moonee Valley mile, the form of which was franked when the winner went on to take out the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill in an upset.
She is nominated for Caulfield’s VOBIS Gold Reef on Saturday as well as the $120,000 Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) in Adelaide.
“She’s really coming though her grades,” Webb said of Ana Royale.
“I think she’s a really nice filly, above average. We’ve always had the two Adelaide Oaks races in mind for her.
“She’s just had a little break for a week on the water walker following her run in Ballarat, which was excellent. So she’ll either go to the 1600-metre here or the 1800-metre in Adelaide [on Saturday].”
The $500,000 Group 1 Schweppes Australasian Oaks (2000m) on Robert Sangster Stakes Day is the key autumn target for Ana Royale.
To back Webb’s weekend runners and to check out the early Adelaide Group 1 racing odds and offers visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.
