In Brief
- Champ stricken with colic on eve of 60th start.
- Stellar career earns Hellova Street champion status.
- Trainer names stables after his star sprinter.
Tasmania lost one of its equine heroes when champion sprinter Hellova Street died because of a colic attack that he suffered on the eve of what would have been his 60th start.
Hellova Street had been campaigning in Victoria in Listed and Group sprint events with the Paris Lane Stakes at Flemington yesterday hoping to add more silverware to his already full mantelpiece.
The 10-year-old gelding was stricken with colic late on Friday and he died in the early hours of Saturday morning.
He was trained throughout his career by Scott Brunton, but everyone knew he belonged to his life partner and fellow trainer Tegan Keys who developed a special relationship with the horse.
Keys rode him in all his trackwork, and the horse responded to her both on and off the track.
Since winning a 3YO maiden in Hobart at his fourth race start seven years ago, Hellova Street went on to win another 19 times as well as notch 25 minor placings for career earnings of $1.291 million.
Hellova Street’s imposing record included thirteen stakes wins, highlighted by two Tasmanian Newmarket Handicaps, three weight-for-age Mowbray Stakes, and the Group 3 Chatham Stakes at Flemington in 2017.
He also was twice crowned Tasmanian Horse of the Year but what race lovers and punters alike will remember him for most was his incredible will to win.
Hellova Street had early brilliance and a high cruising speed, but he also had stamina and that was his secret weapon.
In his younger days he would lead in feature races and just when his rivals thought they had him covered, the gutsy son of Helike would find something extra to repel all challengers.
Hellova Street took his owners, Larry and Melinda Lamont, Allan and Laurie Virieux, and Steve Saltmarsh on a wonderful journey.
His 20 wins were great, but his second to champion mare Mystic Journey in the 2019 weight-for -age Thomas Lyons was one of his most heroic performances.
So loved was the gelding by Brunton and Keys that in 2018 they named their training complex at Seven Mile Beach – Hellova Stable.
Brunton and Keys were so shaken by the horse’s death that they were unable to speak publicly about it yesterday.
A tribute is being planned to remember Hellova Street with an announcement on what that entails to be made soon.
When Hellova Street was made they broke the mould.
Watch Hellova Street win the 2019 Mowbray Stakes.