3YO Filly Legless Veuve upsets the boys in the Manfred Stakes
UNWANTED by punters in the betting market, Legless Veuve defied the odds to win the Group 3 Manfred Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
The 1200m distance was considered too short for the daughter of Pins which showed its best form over longer distances last campaign, but after sitting outside the leader, it proved far too strong for its quality rivals.
Local trainer Stuart Webb was confident heading into the $150,000 feature and he’s happy with the progression it has made since its spring campaign.
“I think the progression she’s made from last preparation to this preparation has been outstanding,” Webb said.
“She’s really developed and we’ll probably just keep her to a light preparation this time in. She’s going to be one of the nicest four-year-old mares you’ll see.
“She’s just a beautiful horse to look at.”
Webb will aim Legless Veuve towards the $750,000 Australian Guineas on March 4 at Flemington, which will be its grand final.
“That’s where she’s been aimed at,” Webb said. “I haven’t done the timing for one of those mares races at Rosehill, but she’ll have maybe four or five races in the preparation.
“She’s only lightly raced and we’ll keep it that way.”
Webb said the three-year-old could mature into a nice older mare, which could contest some of the more prized races in Australia.
“She’s clean winded, she’s athletic, she has a pedigree, she’s a beautiful type and she’s got a race record to prove it,” Webb said.
“She’s strong through the line and she could be a weight-for-age horse as a four or five-year-old.”
Winning jockey Mark Zahra positioned Legless Veuve ($17.30 at CrownBet) outside the speed which was set by Into Orbit, before pulling clear in the straight as the well-favoured Hey Doc and Derryn were left battling in behind.
“She’s a good filly, she puts herself on the speed,” Zahra said.
“We thought she’d be a bit underdone today, but she was really strong to the line.
“We think she’s come back better than ever.”