Gutsy galloper Hellova Street scored an all-the-way win in Saturday's Listed Golden Mile (1600m).
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Having his first start for Patrick Payne after crossing from Tasmanian trainer Scott Brunton, Hellova Street defied a drift in betting to upset arguably the best field in the 15th running of the feature race.
Jockey Michael Dee took Hellova Street from his outside barrier straight to the front and that's where he stayed.
Soon after turning for home, Hellova Street ($19) looked in danger of being run down by Iconoclasm, but he showed great fight to surge clear in the final furlong to win by nearly two lengths.
Iconoclasm ($11) was a game second, with Admiral's Joker ($6) making ground on the inside for third.
Dee joined Bendigo's Brad Rawiller and recently retired Stephen Baster as the only jockeys to win the Golden Mile twice.
Dee won last year's race aboard the Chris Waller-trained Haripour.
"He's very tough, he's honest, he tries hard and we were able to get a nice lead today,'' Dee said after race.
"Gee, I thought the horse that sat outside me had me on the turn but he kicked into another gear and was too strong.
"Speaking to Patrick Payne before the races today he said just have him happy and I thought I was rolling along comfortable on a long reign and we were able to build momentum on that. So it wasn't a sit and sprint and I think he enjoyed it."
"The only horse I was concerned about was the second horse and, once I was able to regain the lead from that horse, I couldn't hear anything else coming so I knew I had it in the bag."
Hellova Street now has an outstanding record of 20 wins from 57 starts, with prizemoney of more than $1.25 million.
The well-backed So Si Bon finished fourth.
"Another standard good effort from him. He just doesn't always win," So Si Bon's jockey Luke Nolen said.
2019 Bendigo Cup winner Top of the Range finished last in his first race since the spring.
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