Brunton battler up for Hellova run

TASMANIAN war horse Hellova Street will be out to prove he is clearly the best sprinter-miler in the state today when he takes on a topclass field in the weight-forage $100,000 Mowbray Stakes over 1600m.

Hellova Street delivered another stellar performance to win the Thomas Lyons at weight-for-age over 1400m in Hobart 17 days ago and, while his trainer Scott Brunton says his star galloper has nothing to prove, deep down nothing would give him more pleasure than to see his “little Aussie battler” emerge triumphant.

But standing in his way is some top class opposition and none more so than Hellova Street’s stablemate Count Da Vinci, which won the Hobart Cup last year and went on to be a gallant second to Big Duke in the Launceston Cup.

Brunton has rearranged Count Da Vinci’s program this preparation so he should be ready to shine over 1600m before he heads to Melbourne to prepare for next month’s Mornington Cup.

Also in contention is Tasmanian-owned Royal Rapture that has been with the Darren Weir-stable for two seasons and he has great form on the Launceston circuit.

The other feature on the 10event card is the $150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes for twoyear-olds.

On exposed form it looks a match between the unbeaten Mystic Journey from the Adam Trinder stable, the Team Wells-trained Gee Gee Secondover and the very impressive Magic Millions Classic winner Our Long Sali.

Thrown into the mix is Victorian filly Malveen from the Henry Dwyer stable that comes off a last-start win at Sandown over 1200m but her time was pedestrian.