Cox Plate Day Win for Tawteen

Talented Stratum mare Tawteen was an early winner at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day taking a heat of the City Jeep Series over 955 metres with a typically speedy display.

Prepared by David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Tawteen led throughout and fought on to win by a short neck, her seventh win in 16 starts with prizemoney now topping $375,000.

Tawteen was a $260,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Shadwell from the Widden Stud draft and is a half-brother to spring stakes-winner Well Sprung from US Group III winner Sprung (USA), a half-sister by Grand Slam to Group I winner Tali’sluckybusride.

Tawteen was the most expensive filly by Stratum sold in 2013 and won the Listed MVRC Crockett Stakes on this day last year and obviously enjoys the Moonee Valley circuit.

“She loves it here and has a great record,” David Hayes said.

“We wanted to keep her fresh and go for this race rather than the 1200 and it’s worked out nicely.

“When she jumped that neck clear I thought she might out-muscle the favourite and to her credit, she did.”

Sprung has a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock, but no foal this spring after slipping to Sebring.