New focus for Hellova Street

TASMANIAN sprinter Hellova Street’s game third at Flemington on Saturday has convinced his trainer Scott Brunton to pursue a spring campaign in Melbourne with the seven-year-old.

A win would have taken Hellova Street’s career stake earnings beyond $1 million but, while the third placing left him well short of the mark, Brunton was full of praise.

“He had to be ridden out of his comfort zone because of the incredibly strong headwind that prevailed up the Flemington straight,” Brunton said. “When Damien [Oliver] eased him off the heels of the leader [Princeton Spirit], my horse ran on well but he couldn’t quite match the two that flashed down the outside.

“He’s been beaten about three quarters-of-a-length, so I’m very proud of his effort.”

Hellova Street ($4.60) settled fourth and just behind the leader and favourite Princeton Spirit ($4) as the quality field in the Victorian Sprint Series final tackled the headwind.

Hellova Street gained the upper hand from the favourite close to home, but he had no answer to the powerful finish of Camdus, which scored by a short-neck from Just Hifalutin. Camdus was ridden by Craig Williams who delivered a career-best performance to ride six winners on the nine-event card.

Hellova Street was having his first start since mid-March when third at Flemington in the Blamey Stakes.

“Damien [Oliver] was impressed with my horse’s effort and he suggested he could be suited to a couple of races during the Melbourne spring carnival,” Brunton said. “The horse will head home this week and be in the spelling paddock by Friday.”

Brunton’s Melbourne assault continues this Saturday at Caulfield where he will saddle up his class mare Life on the Wire in a mares’ event over 1200m and her stablemate Mandela Effect will make his interstate debut in a three-year-old handicap over 1400m. Another star Tasmanian sprinter, Tshahitsi, from the Chris Crook and Imogen Miller stable, will line up in the feature race on the card, the $150,000 John Monash Stakes over 1100m. THE eight-event thoroughbred meeting scheduled for Hobart yesterday was postponed because of the condition of the track. Heavy rain left surface water lying on three sections of the track. The meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday with coverage on Sky 1.