After securing his first black type win in the Listed ATC Civic Stakes back in June, Joe Pride’s Headley Grange (Exosphere) added his second, winning the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) in track record time on Friday, securing his place in the $3m Big Dance on Melbourne Cup day.
A model of consistency for connections having finished first or second in 11 of his last 12 starts, Headley Grange was readied for Friday’s race off the back of a recent barrier trial second.
Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus who is building a really strong relationship with the gelded son of Exosphere, Headley Grange started on the third line of betting in the 13-horse field.
With race favourite, the Group 1 placed Swiftfalcon (Exceedance) settling with just three behind him after a slow getaway, Hyeronimus had Headley Grange in fourth with the John Sargent trained Plametto (NZ) taking up the lead.
As the field started to bunch as the home corner was reached, second favourite Magnatear (Written Tycoon) commenced his run around the outside of the field, but it was short lived as Headley Grange came along his inside before exploding to the lead.
Coming from back in the field was Ciaron Maher’s 5yo mare Vivy Air to be beaten just over a length with the Waterhouse/Bott trained Fully Lit holding on for third to give Yarraman Park’s Hellbent second and third in the race.
Stopping the clock at 1m 28.32s, Headley Grange smashed the previous track record achieved by the Chirs Waller trained Democracy Manifest (Flying Artie) in this race two years prior.
"I thought if this horse had a weakness it was going to be the firm track but he has put that to bed with a track record,'' said Pride.
"He has an amazing winning record, this horse. He has a nomination for the Epsom and we might go there through to the Big Dance.''
Purchased from the Inglis Digital platform in November 2023 for $120,000 after just three starts, Headley Grange’s second black type victory took his record to ten wins and seven placed efforts from 21 starts with earnings of $823,235.
One of 11 stakes winner for Lonhro’s ill-fated Group 1 Golden Rose winner Exosphere headed by Group 1 Lightning Stakes winner Skybird, the Mr RJ Manwaring bred Headley Grange is one of three winners from three to the races out of the winning Hard Spun (USA) mare Hard Go Jo, herself a daughter of the stakes placed Johannesburg mare Go Johemma .
The current 3yo filly out of the mare is a daughter of Hallowed Crown named Twisted Queen who broke her maiden in May for the Ben, Will and JD Hayes yard, while the final foal of the mare who unfortunately passed away last year, is an unnamed filly by Coolmore’s Churchill (IRE).
