A late change of plan by connections led to dual Tasmanian horse-of-the-year Hellova Street landing his 19th career win at Mowbray on Wednesday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Trainer Scott Brunton said the $50,000 Ladbrokes Stakes hadn't originally been on the radar for the nine-year-old.
"We were getting him ready for the Thomas Lyons (on February 9) and were intending to just give him a trial over 1100m," Brunton said.
"But we knew the nominations for this race would be light on and when we got wind of the fact that Mystic Journey wouldn't be coming here we changed our mind."
David Pires sat Hellova Street behind outsider The Master Speed before taking the lead on the home turn and they went on to score by a length from the fast-finishing Gee Gee Secondover with I'm Wesley 2-1/4 lengths away third.
"He's rising 10 but that shows he's still got it," Brunton said.
"He's an iron-horse - words can't express what he means to us.
"He'll now go to the Thomas Lyons and Mowbray Stakes."
Hellova Street ran second to Mystic Journey in the Thomas Lyons last year after winning the race in 2017 and 2018.
He has won the Mowbray Stakes for the past three years.
Pires said it was great to be reunited with Hellova Street, having not ridden him for almost three years.
"He's a tough old, fella and he did it in fantastic style," the jockey said.
"I was really confiding rounding the home turn because he virtually pulled his way to the front."
SCHMITT'S RIDE UPSETS FAVOURITE
A perfect ride from Daniel Schmitt helped Subtle Cross break through at his fifth start in the Maiden Plate.
Subtle Cross raced one-out, one-back behind favourite Upset who got caught outside the leader after beginning quickly from a wide barrier.
Upset found the front in the straight but weakened to finish third as Subtle Cross peeled off his back to win by a short neck from the fast-finishing Real Acclaim.
The favourite's stablemate Catch Me Paddy was an unlucky fourth after being blocked for a run.
Trainer John Blacker said Subtle Cross was still 'a bit of a handful' and would be a better horse next campaign.
"He ran an enormous race here three starts ago and hasn't had a lot of luck since," Blacker said.
"Then he jumped a fence out the back here a fortnight ago and had to be scratched.
"His work has been good and he's learning all the time - he just needs a bit more maturity."
DOUBLE BONUS FOR OWNER-BREEDER
Scott Brunton produced Sky Fox first-up from an 11-week break to win over 1600m in the Class 1 Plate.
It was a nice result for owner-breeder Leon Hesketh as he collected two Tasbred bonuses totalling $20,000 on top of the $10,600 winner's cheque.
"He's a good owner and that's a great result," Brunton said.
"It was a really good effort by the horse to win first-up over that distance but we did give him a couple of good trials leading into it."
David Pires took Sky Fox to the front early but he was headed by Red Fiore mid-race and only regained the lead with about 50m to go.
Elisavet closed late to finish an unlucky second with Red Fiore holding on for third.
McCOULL IN FORM HEADING TO DERBY
Brendon McCoull warmed up for his ride on favourite Still A Star in Friday's Tasmanian Derby with a copybook display on Our Declaration in the Rating 66 over 2100m.
The Stuart Gandy-trained mare drew the outside gate but McCoull gradually worked forward to be in second place turning out of the straight.
He then sat behind the leader before coming off the rail to avoid being pocketed when Poole Harbour made an early move after being caught wide.
Our Declaration took the lead turning for home and quickly put result beyond doubt, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths from C'Est Bon and Geegees First Lady.
"Stuart was very confident before the race - there appeared to be only four chances and I was on one of them," McCoull said.
"We got across quite well to find a good spot but I was a bit surprised when some of the others took off early - I thought the pace was genuine enough.
"But it didn't upset her at all and it was a good win."