Inglis Digital graduate Headley Grange (Exosphere) won his maiden G1 at Eagle Farm today when scoring a deserved victory in the Kingsford Smith Cup.
Trained by Joe Pride at Warwick Farm, Headley Grange is one of the most consistent horses in racing.
Not only is he a 12-time winner from 28 starts – with seven minor placings as well – this preparation alone he has finished 4th in the G1 Canterbury Stakes behind Joliestar, 5th in the G1 George Ryder Stakes behind Autumn Glow, 5th in the G1 All Aged Stakes behind Beiwacht and 7th in the G1 Doncaster Mile behind Sheza Alibi.
He also won the $1.5m Alan Brown Stakes in the spring.
Headley Grange (pictured) was purchased by HDB Bloodstock – on behalf of Bob Manwaring - through the 2023 Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale for $120,000 after just three career starts.
He has since won 11 races for more than $2.4m in prizemoney.
Manwaring was trackside to witness today’s win and was in awe of Headley Grange, who will now target the G1 Stradbroke Handicap back at Eagle Farm in a fortnight.
“I knew he’d run a big race, he’s been too consistent not to and it’s amazing to see him get his Group 1,’’ Manwaring said.
“I bred him and had an argument with his initial trainer, I said he’s too good for the bush so he said ‘buy me out then’ so we put him on Inglis Digital and I got a mate to come in with me because I knew we’d have to pay a bit for him but the rest is history.
“He’s up close to $2.5m now, it’s unbelievable but hopefully there’s more to come even in a few weeks in the Stradbroke.’’
Headley Grange joins the likes of Half Yours, Sheza Alibi, She’s Extreme, Mariamia and Bella Vella etc as G1 winners purchased off Inglis Digital, while shares in subsequent G1 winners like Private Eye, Private Harry, Port Lockroy, Charm Stone, Benedetta, Baraqiel etc have also been purchased off the platform.
Headley Grange becomes the 120th individual G1-winning Inglis gradate since 2018.
Also at Eagle Farm today another Inglis Digital graduate Savagery Vibe (Brutal) scored a valuable first Stakes success with victory in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes for trainer Tony Gollan.
Cameron Cooke purchased the Orbis Bloodstock-bred Savagery Vibe for $22,500 as an unraced 2YO filly in the 2024 February (Early) Online Sale.
She has now raced 17 times for five wins and seven minor placings, earning almost $320,000 in prizemoney.
“It’s been an evolving preparation, she’s been a real work in progress,’’ Gollan said.
“She’s held weight all preparation and she just kept putting her hand up to run again and again and again. I wasn’t sure if I had another run in her, I’d had her up for so long but I just knew how much she loved the Eagle Farm 1200m… she looked fantastic, she looked as though she was first up in the yard and she’s come out and won.’’
