Bendigo, Listed bet 365 Protest Promise Golden Mile, $150,000, 1600m
Race summary:
Tasmanian warrior Hellova Street (Helike {USA}) claimed one of the biggest victories of his 57-start career with a relentless front-running performance at Bendigo.
Drawn 13 in a 16-horse field, the battle-hardened 9-year-old was pushed forward by jockey Michael Dee and took the lead ahead of Iconoclasm (Toorak Toff) and Gold Fields (Churchill Downs).
Hellova Street showed no signs of stopping as he rounded the home turn, and Iconoclasm stayed with him as his only serious threat.
But surrender was not an option for Hellova Street, who maintained a clear margin over Iconoclasm and charged to victory by 1.75l. Admiral’s Joker (Bel Esprit) came from the second half of the field to finish third, 1.25l behind Iconoclasm.
Recently transferred from Scott Brunton into the stable of Patrick Payne, Hellova Street has now won 20 races and more than $1.28 million. He has now won 11 times at stakes level, with this win the second richest after the G3 Chatham S. at Flemington in 2017. He was bred by Larry and Melinda Lamont, who also share in the ownership.
Pedigree notes:
Hellova Street is by Helike (USA), who stood for six seasons in Tasmania at a service fee ranging from $2200 (inc GST) to $3300 (inc GST). He has sired 29 winners from 60 runners, with Hellova Street part of a quartet of stakes winners. Up Cups won the G3 Hobart Cup and Launceston Cup, while Like A Carousel and Moonless won at Listed level.
The dam of Hellova Street is Butter Street (Secret Savings {USA}), who won two races. She is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Kazio (Foreplay), while her dam is a full sister to Cranbourne Cup winner Kattavia (Grand Lodge {USA}).
Butter Street’s granddam is stakes-placed Kanacea (NZ) (English Harbour {GB}), a half-sister to the G1 Railway H. winner Al Donte (NZ) (Sharivari {USA}). Another half-sister is the third dam of Caulfield Cup winner Descarado (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Butter Street is the dam of four winners from five foals to race, including two stakes winners. Streetwise Savoire (Savoire Vivre {GB}) won the Listed Thomas Lyons S.
Bendigo, Listed Jayco Bendigo Guineas, $150,000, 1400m
Race summary:
Making his first start at stakes level, Riddle Me That (Deep Field) came out on top in a thrilling finish to the Bendigo Guineas.
Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse for Mornington trainer Matt Laurie, the chestnut began well from a wide gate and settled handily in fourth place behind the leader Condo’s Express (Rubick).
That runner kicked strongly in the straight and was going to take some catching, but Riddle Me That was part of a wave of horses that gradually swallowed up the front-runner.
Riddle Me That, Score (Written Tycoon) and Spend (Snitzel) forged clear to fight out what looked like a three-way finish, but then Zousonic (Zoustar) charged home from second-last to put her name in the ring.
With less than 0.5l covering the first four horses, Riddle Me That snatched victory by a head from Score. Zousonic flew into third, a head behind Score and the same margin ahead of Spend.
Riddle Me That has now had 10 starts for four wins, four placings and $184,140 in stakes. He races in the colours of Aqua Trained Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd.
Pedigree notes:
Riddle Me That was bred by Aqua Trained Thoroughbreds’ Tom Curnow. He is by Deep Field, who stands for a $44,000 (inc GST) service fee at Newgate Farm.
Deep Field is the sire of 66 winners from 138 runners, and Riddle Me That became his fourth individual stakes winner, joining Cosmic Force, Dig Deep and Xilong. His oldest progeny are 3-year-olds.
The dam of Riddle Me That is Justine Coup (NZ) (Entrepreneur {GB}), who won seven races including the G3 Churchill S. She also placed in the G3 Trentham S. and is a half-sister to the Listed-placed Coup Hogan (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
Justine Coup’s dam is a three-quarter sister to the multiple stakes-winner Mushtak (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), and they are both out of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Royal Regatta (NZ) (Sea Anchor {Ire}).
Royal Regatta is a half-sister to Garden Of Eden (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}), the granddam of Melbourne Cup placegetter and black-type producer Zazabelle (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Other black-type performers descending from her siblings include G1 Queensland Oaks winner Round The World (NZ) (Sea Anchor {Ire}) and G1 Herbie Dyke S. winner Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
Justine Coup is the dam of nine winners from 10 foals to race, and Riddle Me That was her last foal and first stakes winner.
