Tawteen snapped a frustrating run of near misses in town to kick-start the season for trainer David Hayes when she sped to an all-the-way win at Moonee Valley.

Not to be outdone, stablemate Churchill Dancer stepped out and made it a race-to-race double for the Hayes and Tom Dabernig training partnership on Saturday.

Tawteen's 1-1/4 length win in the Dr Sheahan Plate (1200m) was Hayes and Dabernig's first city win of the season in Melbourne.

The team had had six seconds and two thirds over the first four city meetings for 2015/2016.

"If it was the other way around, we would have been flying," Hayes said.

"I know they are racing well and we've won a lot of very good maidens (at the provincials) and they've been trotting up.

"It's nice to get moving and get a couple of (city) winners and I think they'll keep flowing now."

Jockey Steven Baster didn't give up the lead early on Tawteen and she held her rivals at bay to defeat Pilly's Wish with Catch That Cat a short half-head away third.

"I thought I got an easy sectional in the middle of the race there and when I got that I thought it was going to be hard for them to get past her. She's got some class," Baster said.

Churchill Dancer scored 4-3/4 lengths in the William Hill Handicap (1200m) in his second start back from surgery to remove a bone chip in a knee.

"He used to hang all the time. He was a consistent horse but he's gone to another level," Hayes said.

Churchill Dancer ($7.50) held his spot on the rail at the heels of the leader until taking over before the turn and sprinting clear.

Favourite Sardaaj ($3.40) was caught in traffic before hitting the line strongly for second in her first Australian start.