Team Hawkes trained filly Mossfun has thrown herself into the Golden Slipper mix with an impressive win in the Group 3 $150,000 Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill today.

Mossfun impresses with Widden Stakes win. Photo by Steve Hart.

Mossfun became quickly with Tommy Berry who then restrained the Mossman filly to settle her in midfield in the seven horse field and after balancing her in the straight was able to draw away to score a comfortable win.

Mossfun was having her first start since winning the $250,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) on the Kensington track at Randwick on December 14 and Trevor Lobb from Emirates Park who race the filly said they would now aim her towards the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 5.

“It was always the plan to run her at Randwick in the Inglis race and then give her a little break and bring her back for here and then we will step slowly towards the main ones,” Lobb said.

In a rare move Berry, who is the stable rider for Gai Waterhouse, rode the Team Hawkes trained Mossfun while James McDonald was on the favourite Twirl from the Waterhouse stable.

And to complete the puzzle, McDonald rode Mossfun when she won the Inglis Nursery and Berry was aboard Twirl when she finished second to smart colt Rubick over 1000m at Randwick on January 25.

McDonald had Twirl out of the barriers smartly and after bouncing in front, restrained the filly to settle in second spot behind Alpha Miss.

In the straight Twirl started to struggle and Berry pushed Mossfun ($4) to the front at the 250m and drew away to score by one length over roughie Ygrite ($16) that finished well from the back with Twirl ($2.10 favourite) hanging on for third.