A heavy 10 did not deter connections of twelve youngsters contesting the Rhino The Wrecker Plate (1000m) at Cranbourne on Saturday.
Eight of the twelve were making their career debuts and it was one of the unraced division that fought it out.
The Greg Eurell-trained Taut You Could made the most of his home ground advantage. With Damian Lane in the saddle, the son of O’Lonhro defeated the fast-finishing Street Boss (USA) colt El Padrino by a long head with the Nicconi colt Valenconi a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
A homebred for Neville Murdoch’s Larneuk Stud, Taut You Could is a brother to stable favourite O’Touto, a Flemington winner who placed behind The Inevitable and Age Of Chivalry in the 2019 Group III CS Hayes Stakes.
“Neville Murdoch of Larneuk Stud had the mare (Taut) who is unfortunately not with us anymore, but everything she had can run and this guy is no exception,” Eurell said.
"He's a little bit more precocious than what O'Tauto was. At this stage he is doing everything right and it was the right time to bring him to the races.
“He toughed it out. I said to Damian that the more you ask the more he will keep giving. That’s the style of horse he has shown us all the way through.
“The 1000m is not necessarily his go, but he is a good, tough competitor and got away with it. But I have no doubt that 1200m or 1400m and a bit further later in his career will be a more suitable trip for him.
“We will have to have a good look (at the programme) now. He is holding up all right and has been very good in the stable. He is a tremendous doer so hopefully there is a bit more left in the tank and he is heading in the right direction.”
Lane said the son of O'Lonhro still has plenty to learn.
"He is still very green, a very raw horse but he was obviously very fit and ready to go," Lane said.
"He’d got through the conditions and hit the line well."
Taut You Could is the third winner for the Strategic mare Taut who Murdoch bought for just $800 at the 2014 Inglis Great Southern Bloodstock Sale.
A half-sister to Group III Research Stakes winner Taut (Lonhro) and to the dam of Group 1 VRC Makybe Diva Stakes winner Gatting (Hard Spun), Taut died last month, shortly after producing a full brother to Taut You Could and O’Tauto.
