Winner of the Group II Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield last spring, Legless Veuve was largely ignored by punters when she took on the boys at her seasonal debut in Saturday's Group III Ladbrokes Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Ridden by Mark Zahra for Caulfield trainer Stuart Webb, the daughter of Pins made a quick start to sit outside leader Into Orbit and the pair had the race to themselves.

Legless Veuve gradually drew away from Into Orbit to win by three-quarters of a length with Hey Doc the same distance back in third. (photo Grant Courtney).

"She's a good filly that puts herself on speed," Zahra said.

"We thought she may have been a bit underdone today but I had trouble holding her off Into Orbit - put him away at the top of the straight and was strong to the line."

Webb said the Group 1 Australian Guineas was the goal this prep.

"The progression she's made from last prep to this prep has been outstanding, he said.

"She's really developed and I'll probably keep her to a light prep this time in and I think she will be one of the nicest 4yo mares you'll see –she is just a beautiful mare to look at.

"She'll have just one more run in a fortnight over 1400 metres before the Australian Guineas.

A full sister to Group III Mannerism Stakes winner and Group I Telegraph Stakes runner-up Tootsie, Legless Veuve was a $150,000 NZB Premier purchase from the Waikato Stud draft.

She is one of four winners from the unraced O'Reilly mare Hyades, who comes from the family of Group winners Red Eclipse, No Excuse Maggie and Battle Hero.

Hyades has an unnamed 2yo colt by Savabeel that was a $170,000 purchase at last year's NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale.

She was not covered in 2014 before visiting Ocean Park the following year.