Trainer Joe Pride expects another bold showing from 2025 Civic Stakes favourite Headley Grange

News.com.au

16 hours ago

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 pic.twitter.com/sWNPkCPCrW
— 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.
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'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.'