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Tasmania’s reigning Horse of the Year Hellova Street is heading for Melbourne and Adelaide after becoming a million dollar stakes earner at Mowbray in Launceston today.

The Scott Brunton-trained eight-year-old proved that he is certainly one of hell of a horse when he won the $100,000 Steve’s Liquor Mowbray Stakes (1600m) for the third successive year, emulating former Tasmanian star Stuyvesant who also won the Listed race three times in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

Handed to Brunton to train as a 2YO after he was rejected from yearling sales, Hellova Street has now won 18 of his 45 starts with 19 placings for earnings of $1,058,125.

Hellova Street as been a frequent visitor to Victoria where he has raced 14 times for two wins and six placings and will attempt to add to that record at his next start when he contests a Group 3 race over 1400m at Flemington on March 16.

From there he will be set for the Adelaide carnival in May where his target will be the Group 3 RA Lee Stakes over 1600 metres at Morphettville.

“There is no doubt 1400 metres is his best distance but he gets the mile well as he proved again today,” Brunton said.

“Obviously there is very little for him in Tasmania so we’ll head to Melbourne again for the same Group race he won two years at Flemington and then set him for Adelaide.”

Brunton said there is no time frame on Hellova Street’s career and will keep racing him as long as the gelding remains healthy

“We have always taken care of him,” Brunton said. “He will tell us when he’s had enough.”

Hellova Street has become jockey Jason Maskiell’s favourite horse with the Mowbray Stakes being his fourth win on the gelding since he made the his comeback to riding last season.

“He gave me my first feature win after I came back and he’s taken me to Melbourne,” Maskiell said.

“He’s a gun – I love him.”

Maskiel dictated the pace from soon after the start on the long odds on favourite and it was obvious at the 400m that Hellova’s Street’s rivals faced a task to run him down under the weight-for-age conditions.

“He wanted to drop the bit a bit earlier than I expected but he always had them covered,” Maskiell said.

Hellova Street, who has worn blinkers in every one of his 45 career starts, ran out an easy winner from Zatacla with Kenjorwood taking third place from the disappointing second favourite Chamois Road.

Brunton said much of the credit for Hellova Street’s longevity goes to Tegan Keys, the daughter of fellow Tasmanian trainer John Keys.

She has been the gelding's dedicated track rider and minder throughout his career.

LORD DA VINCI, another stalwart of the Brunton stable, ended his racing career in glory when he won the $50,000 PDF Royal Rambo Quality over 1200m.

Also an 8YO, Lord Da Vinci retires with 12 wins and 16 placings from 46 starts, earning over $370,000 prizemoney.

Brunton said the veteran had constant fitness issues and he knew the time had come to give the former Victorian gelding his last race.

“We went into this just hoping for the best,” Brunton said. “We knew his time had come and to win his final start is a massive bonus.”