$3m Big Dance a goal for improving Headley Grange
Jason Collett returned to Sydney in winning fashion on Saturday, bagging a treble at Randwick including the feature Civic Stakes (1400m) on Headley Grange.
The in-form jockey wasted no time, notching wins on Callistemon in the Midway Handicap (1600m), Lulumon in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1000m), and topping off the day aboard Joe Pride’s promising sprinter.
“He’s a nice horse,” Collett said.
“The tempo of that race was different to last start. It was genuinely run. He has quickened off it and then he’s had to tough it out.
“He just found another gear. When they came to him at the 150 (metres) he went again so that’s a really good sign.”
Trainer Joe Pride has his eyes on bigger targets, with Headley Grange now likely to head to the South Grafton Cup as a stepping stone toward the lucrative Big Dance (1600m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
“Nice to see him step up to that higher grade today,” Pride commented.
“That’s never easy to do in a high-pressure race with plenty of opposition.
“He’s come back particularly well this preparation and we will go to the South Grafton Cup next. We will try and qualify him for one of the ‘Dances’.”
The stable has worked hard to manage the horse’s nerves, including a new mounting procedure approved by stewards. Collett’s late leg-up clearly helped the gelding remain calm and focused.
Sent out as the $2.45 favourite, Headley Grange responded when challenged in the final furlong, scoring by half a length from Welwal ($26) with Astero ($51) close up in third.
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