Headley Grange, a five-year-old gelding by Exosphere, has emerged as a promising contender in the world of horse racing, earning back-to-back black-type victories and a spot in the prestigious $3m Big Dance on Melbourne Cup Day. His recent win in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle not only secured his place in the Big Dance but also saw him break the track record with a blistering time of 1m 28.32s.
From Bargain Buy to Black-Type Winner
Headley Grange’s journey to the winner’s circle is a testament to the keen eye of his connections. Part-owner Bob Manwaring shared that the horse was bred by him. It comes from some very handy stock, which have been bred over the years by the family.
Initially, the plan was to sell Headley Grange, but as Manwaring explains, “Being by the stallion that he was at the time, they weren’t really selling that well, so I decided to keep him.”
After a stint with a trainer at Coffs Harbour, where Manwaring felt the horse wasn’t being given the opportunities he deserved, they decided to make a bold move and buy him back online for $120,000, $120,000 for a gelding that had only won a maiden, it’s a fair bit,” Manwaring said.
Some perspective owners thought $120,000 was too much for a maiden winner, and despite being offered the chance to buy the horse decided that the price was too steep, how wrong they were.
This strategic purchase brought in new owners, including some who had previously enjoyed success with horses like Grand Rosso and Capital Gain. This move has paid off handsomely, as Headley Grange has since earned over $820,000 in prize money.
“Everyone who did buy into him is over the moon with it. He has literally paid his way the whole time,” Manwaring confirmed.
Race Performance and Future Plans
Headley Grange’s recent victory in the Cameron Handicap was a race the owners had specifically targeted.
“Joe (Pride) wanted to put him out and give him a quick freshen up because we were always trying to get him into the Big Dance,” Manwaring stated. The horse had a setback at Grafton due to a firm track, but he quickly bounced back at Rosehill and then at Newcastle. His impressive performance in the Cameron Handicap was even more remarkable as he was coming off a “two-week freshen up in the paddock and five weeks back in the stable,” a preparation that seems to be working well for him.
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus has been a key factor in the horse’s success, building a strong partnership with Headley Grange.
“We are going to try and stick pretty loyal to jockey Adam Hyeronimus because he knows the horse well, he’s had six rides on him for five wins and the only loss he had was that one up at Grafton,” Manwaring explained. This loyalty to the jockey is so strong that they plan to bypass the Epsom Handicap, a Group 1 race, because Hyeronimus can’t make the required lighter weight. Instead, they will target another race a week later to prepare for the Big Dance.
A Sentimental Journey
Beyond the statistics and prize money, Headley Grange holds a special place in the hearts of his owners. The horse has”earned his keep, that fella,” according to Manwaring. The sentimentality runs deep, as the horse’s success came at a bittersweet time. “Just as he started winning, his mum died two weeks after giving birth to her last foal,” Manwaring shared. While the loss of his dam, Hard Go Jo, was sad, it also brought a blessing in the form of three fillies from the mare, two of whom have already won races.
Headley Grange, at just five years old, still has “a lot of racing in front of him.” While there were initial offers from Hong Kong when he was a three-year-old, the offers were declined due to the horse having “a few little anomalies.” Since then, no further offers have been made.
However, with his consistent form, track record-breaking performance, and a clear path to the Big Dance, all eyes will be on this exceptional gelding as he continues his impressive journey.
Tully Potts
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