Latest news with #HeadleyGrange
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Joe Pride expects another bold showing from 2025 Civic Stakes favourite Headley Grange
Trainer Joe Pride is yet to find Headley Grange's ceiling but expects the bombproof galloper will be up to the challenge of Saturday's Listed $200,000 Civic Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick. Pride will launch a three-pronged attack in the feature with Headley Grange the clear pick of the litter in the main event of the 10-race card alongside Cool Jakey and Estadio Mestalla. Headley Grange has been a revelation for Pride over the past 12 months and hasn't finished worse than second in nearly a year with four wins in his past eight starts. The son of Exosphere was a well-backed favourite when scoring first-up from a break with a strong victory in Benchmark 94 grade at Randwick. 'I can't remember the last time he missed the place, he is very honest and genuine,' Pride said. 'I think he is one of those ones where you don't need the trainer to recommend him to punters. I am sure they will all pile in. 'He is the clear favourite for a reason, very consistent. I guess if you have to pick holes in what he has to do on Saturday, it's his first time in Listed grade so that has to be against him. 'The conditions of the track are neither here nor there for him. He goes just as well on wet or dry. 'The 1400m is spot on so there's seemingly not many chinks in his armour.' Headley Grange wins first up to give @PrideRacing a Randwick double! 🙌 @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 The Civic Stakes will be the first time in his 17-start career that Headley Grange has been tested in stakes grade but Pride believes his four-year-old is more than worthy of the opportunity. Headley Grange has been one of the most consistent horses in Pride's stable and has continued on an upward trajectory. 'He could well go to another level. I figure he has a ceiling there somewhere,' Pride said. 'He has got the engine there and he won like a Listed race would be well within his mark. He is a going well.' Headley Grange, to be ridden by Jason Collett, is the $2.70 favourite for the Civic Stakes with Cool Jakey at $10 and Estadio Mestalla at $23. Cool Jakey is dropping back in trip with Reece Jones aboard after leading from the front and tiring late in a mile event at Randwick a fortnight ago. • Ray & Duff's Randwick tips: Punters should plan their Exit on Saturday 'It was a mile race and he was OK at the mile on a leaderish track two starts ago but last start at a mile at the pace he went it was too far for him,' Pride said. 'Back 200m here. He has been fortunate enough to race on some wet tracks of late and it's been to his advantage. 'Saturday will be the driest he has had. It could be an issue for him.' While Estadio Mestalla is the outsider of Pride's trio, he's expecting an improved effort from the gelding. Estadio Mestalla finished five lengths off Headley Grange first-up from a break with Chad Schofield to take over the ride. 'He will run much better than his place in the market suggests,' Pride said. 'I can't quite put my finger on what happened to him first-up but he has pulled up well and is a horse that is very capable at this level. 'He has run second in a Little Dance and placed in this race last year. 'I am not asking him to do anything he hasn't before and I think he can get back to that form on Saturday.' He will saddle up another in-form galloper when Storm The Ramparts ($4.20) goes in search of a third consecutive victory in the Asahi Super Dry Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m). Storm The Ramparts will have to lug the topweight of 61.5kg after scoring back-to-back victories at the same venue this prep. 'He keeps creeping up in the weights but weights in 1000m races don't matter as much,' Pride said. 'I am happy with him. He is honest and genuine. 'He is another one that has been able to hit those soft and heavy tracks at those last three runs. 'Coming back to a track that is a soft 5 is he disadvantaged? Probably.'
New Paper
19 hours ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Headley Grange should frank Pools form
There is a good chance that the inaugural Singapore Pools Handicap (1,300m) at Royal Randwick on June 7 may well have set the stage for a Listed winner at the same track two weeks later. Headley Grange's winning burst in the Benchmark 94 race named after the Singapore gaming company was so impressive that newfound fans have been waiting for his next outing with bated breath. Trainer Joseph Pride has picked the A$200,000 (S$167,000) Listed Civic Stakes (1,400m) on June 21 as the race to keep the seven-time winner by Exosphere on the up. On paper, the four-year-old's task looks stiffer up against better-rated customers like Iknowastar (105) and Willaidow (103), but his hike of only five points from 88 to 93 after such an explosive turn of foot in the Singapore Pools race gives him a strong fighting chance to go back-to-back. On handicap, he will have only 54kg on his back, in receipt of six kilos from the topweight Iknowastar on 60kg. While Headley Grange beat Green Shadows by only three parts of a length at his last start, most pundits would agree he should have scored by a wider margin had he found daylight earlier. Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus then, he was seen clambering on heels at the 300m while he was clearly raring to go. When the opening came through, he quickly put his rivals to the sword. With the in-form Hyeronimus not riding at 54kg, Pride did not have to search high and low for a rider who could make the weight. The booking of top jockey Jason Collett can only enhance his chances, as will the handy barrier No. 4. Headley Grange currently heads the market at 11-5, but, somehow, the next popular pick is a fifth emergency (down to second standby after three horses - Warnie, Chrysaor and Another One - were scratched), Raikkonen, for the in-form Bjorn Baker yard at 9-2. Surprisingly, Green Shadows' bid to turn the tables on Headley Grange is not that fancied at 11-1, presumably because of his horror gate in 20 as well as the unfavourable pull in weights. On-pace sprinter Whinchat was a beaten favourite in the Singapore Pools Handicap after he bombed the start. The David Pfieffer-trained speedster did pass a barrier test with flying colours and gets a chance to make amends by lining up in the Civic Stakes, but the outermost alley in 22 may bring his downfall again. It may well be Headley Grange's stable companion Cool Jakey who will make his presence felt when the whips are cracking following his creditable fifth in the Singapore Pools Handicap. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Bases Loaded should not be written off either, after finally drawing in following a run of rotten luck with the barriers. With Stradbroke-winning jockey Tim Clark up, it would not surprise anyone if the China Horse Club-owned Deep Field four-year-old shoots to the lead from gate No. 2, and goes all the way. manyan@
Sydney Morning Herald
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Joe Pride rides winning wave with In Flight as part of Randwick treble
'She's beautiful. I wouldn't say she's a sweet filly. She's a tart at times, but she's got all the attributes a good mare needs.' Adam Hyeronimus then rode a double for Pride, taking Headley Grange ($3.50) through a gap late before taking the inside path on Storm The Ramparts ($3.60) in the last. It was a seventh city-level double in the past five weeks for Hyeronimus. Colt joins trio's spring assault Hidden Motive added to the spring excitement of the Private Harry team of Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle, Kurrinda Bloodstock and jockey Ash Morgan when he held on with a lucky bob of the head at Randwick on Saturday. The Capitalist colt, an odds-on favourite, backed up a dominant maiden win at Hawkesbury to beat fast-finishing Kujenga by a nose in the two-year-old 1100m race to open the meeting. Kurrinda Bloodstock director Sean Driver said Hidden Motive, which had mild sesamoiditis as a $120,000 yearling buy, would go to his farm for two weeks before returning to work with the Coolmore Stud Stakes on November 1 as the target. Driver said Hidden Motive was a 'four or five lengths better horse' with more suitable conditions. 'He overraced, he got pestered in front and did a fair bit of work. He'll improve a lot,' Driver said. 'Wait until you see him on top of the ground. At home, what he's shown us, he's absolutely electric.' Private Harry, meanwhile, has returned to Doyle's stables to work towards the $20 million The Everest in October. The unbeaten colt is the top contender in betting to favourite Ka Ying Rising, which was confirmed as a starter this week after a slot lease deal between the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Australian Turf Club. Driver said Private Harry had put on between 65 and 80 kilograms of 'all muscle' during his spell. 'He's grown probably an inch and a half, but he's only three and he still had that bit of growing to do,' Driver said. 'He looks outstanding. I'm excited. All I'll say is they are going to have to be good to beat him.' Driver said Private Harry would have two trials, probably at Newcastle then in Sydney, before runs in The Shorts and Premiere Stakes to prepare for The Everest. Hellfire Express made it an early double for Doyle and Morgan, leading all the way to win the Midway Handicap comfortably at $16. Morgan turned that into a first city treble when taking Matthew Smith-trained Millie De Lune ($8) to victory in the 2000m benchmark 72 handicap. The Newcastle-based Welshman, enjoying a breakout year in town, put Millie De Lune in a perfect spot behind the leaders before she swept past favourite Hurstville Zagreb for a one and a quarter-length win. Smith praised the 'super' ride, saying Morgan won the race in the first 100 metres. The trainer made special mention of Millie De Lune part-owner Noel Surawski, who died during the week at the age of 90. Group 1 glory for NSW stables While it was a rare quiet day for the Chris Waller stable at Randwick, the champion Sydney trainer celebrated a national record 19th group 1 win of the season when Joliestar stormed home to nab Zarastro on the line and claim the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm. Waller had equalled his own record before the win, which also took premier jockey James McDonald to a career-best 15th group 1 Australian victory of the season. Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, a winner at Randwick with Loch Eagle, claimed his third Queensland Oaks when You Wahng kicked back late under Tommy Berry to beat Pinito. Randwick trainer John O'Shea and Tom Charlton then landed the Queensland Derby quinella with Maison Louis and King Of Thunder. Loy strikes on Bengal Luke Pepper-trained Bengal put forward an early case for a Kosciuszko slot thanks to a strong finish and clever ride from Brodie Loy, who scored his first win in Sydney in three years. Bengal ($7), a $42,500 buy online from the Chris Waller yard last November, came with an inside run in the Highway Handicap to narrowly beat favourite Shropshire Lad. 'We earmarked him as a Kosciuszko sort of horse, if he kept improving, and we thought this was good place to kick him off and get his profile out there,' Pepper said. Loading Loy was grateful for the chance on Bengal, which he said was 'a very nice horse with good improvement to come'. 'Luke's been one of my very good mates for a very long time and for him to trust me on some of these horses is very nice,' Loy said. 'The last couple of years, I've only ridden here once a couple of weeks and here today, so I don't come here often, so it's nice to get a win.'
The Age
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Joe Pride rides winning wave with In Flight as part of Randwick treble
'She's beautiful. I wouldn't say she's a sweet filly. She's a tart at times, but she's got all the attributes a good mare needs.' Adam Hyeronimus then rode a double for Pride, taking Headley Grange ($3.50) through a gap late before taking the inside path on Storm The Ramparts ($3.60) in the last. It was a seventh city-level double in the past five weeks for Hyeronimus. Colt joins trio's spring assault Hidden Motive added to the spring excitement of the Private Harry team of Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle, Kurrinda Bloodstock and jockey Ash Morgan when he held on with a lucky bob of the head at Randwick on Saturday. The Capitalist colt, an odds-on favourite, backed up a dominant maiden win at Hawkesbury to beat fast-finishing Kujenga by a nose in the two-year-old 1100m race to open the meeting. Kurrinda Bloodstock director Sean Driver said Hidden Motive, which had mild sesamoiditis as a $120,000 yearling buy, would go to his farm for two weeks before returning to work with the Coolmore Stud Stakes on November 1 as the target. Driver said Hidden Motive was a 'four or five lengths better horse' with more suitable conditions. 'He overraced, he got pestered in front and did a fair bit of work. He'll improve a lot,' Driver said. 'Wait until you see him on top of the ground. At home, what he's shown us, he's absolutely electric.' Private Harry, meanwhile, has returned to Doyle's stables to work towards the $20 million The Everest in October. The unbeaten colt is the top contender in betting to favourite Ka Ying Rising, which was confirmed as a starter this week after a slot lease deal between the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Australian Turf Club. Driver said Private Harry had put on between 65 and 80 kilograms of 'all muscle' during his spell. 'He's grown probably an inch and a half, but he's only three and he still had that bit of growing to do,' Driver said. 'He looks outstanding. I'm excited. All I'll say is they are going to have to be good to beat him.' Driver said Private Harry would have two trials, probably at Newcastle then in Sydney, before runs in The Shorts and Premiere Stakes to prepare for The Everest. Hellfire Express made it an early double for Doyle and Morgan, leading all the way to win the Midway Handicap comfortably at $16. Morgan turned that into a first city treble when taking Matthew Smith-trained Millie De Lune ($8) to victory in the 2000m benchmark 72 handicap. The Newcastle-based Welshman, enjoying a breakout year in town, put Millie De Lune in a perfect spot behind the leaders before she swept past favourite Hurstville Zagreb for a one and a quarter-length win. Smith praised the 'super' ride, saying Morgan won the race in the first 100 metres. The trainer made special mention of Millie De Lune part-owner Noel Surawski, who died during the week at the age of 90. Group 1 glory for NSW stables While it was a rare quiet day for the Chris Waller stable at Randwick, the champion Sydney trainer celebrated a national record 19th group 1 win of the season when Joliestar stormed home to nab Zarastro on the line and claim the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm. Waller had equalled his own record before the win, which also took premier jockey James McDonald to a career-best 15th group 1 Australian victory of the season. Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, a winner at Randwick with Loch Eagle, claimed his third Queensland Oaks when You Wahng kicked back late under Tommy Berry to beat Pinito. Randwick trainer John O'Shea and Tom Charlton then landed the Queensland Derby quinella with Maison Louis and King Of Thunder. Loy strikes on Bengal Luke Pepper-trained Bengal put forward an early case for a Kosciuszko slot thanks to a strong finish and clever ride from Brodie Loy, who scored his first win in Sydney in three years. Bengal ($7), a $42,500 buy online from the Chris Waller yard last November, came with an inside run in the Highway Handicap to narrowly beat favourite Shropshire Lad. 'We earmarked him as a Kosciuszko sort of horse, if he kept improving, and we thought this was good place to kick him off and get his profile out there,' Pepper said. Loading Loy was grateful for the chance on Bengal, which he said was 'a very nice horse with good improvement to come'. 'Luke's been one of my very good mates for a very long time and for him to trust me on some of these horses is very nice,' Loy said. 'The last couple of years, I've only ridden here once a couple of weeks and here today, so I don't come here often, so it's nice to get a win.'
