Headley Grange reunites with Hyeronimus for All Aged Stakes challenge

Boasting six successes from just eight rides on Headley Grange, the connections of the gelding naturally trust Adam Hyeronimus to deliver peak performance in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick.

To launch his current campaign, the five-year-old produced two eye-catching runs, flying late to grab fourth behind Joliestar in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) on resumption and powering on strongly again for fifth behind Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

Yet, in his most recent outing in the Doncaster Mile (1600m), his demeanor faltered as he turned fractious and resistant to loading, culminating in a seventh-placed finish.

Trainer Joe Pride believes Hyeronimus's comeback will foster a better mental state for the horse heading into this weekend.

"Adam is back on, and Adam seems to get on really well with him and it's the pre-race antics that cost him," Pride said.

"Hopefully Adam can make a fair difference for us on Saturday.

"He is capable at his best. In the weight-for-age Canterbury Stakes over 1300 metres he ran a terrific race first-up and it's a similar set-up here. It's around that trip and weight-for-age, so I think he can be competitive. But I want to see him do the little things right."

Around the stable, Pride likened Headley Grange to "a kid's pony", though he admitted the gelding can get overly excited on race mornings.

Besides reinstating Hyeronimus, whose record includes six wins aboard the horse such as the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) success last spring from post 17, Pride intends to apply pacifiers ahead of the event.

"It's the little percentages we're trying to play," he said.

"They're pretty simple creatures, horses. You've got to continue changing things for them if they're doing things wrong. If they're not, don't change anything.

"It's not an easy task on Saturay. It's a hot field. As good an All Aged field as I can remember seeing, to be honest."

Drawing gate 14, the outermost in the All Aged Stakes (1400m), Headley Grange should take up a forward position according to Pride, settling among the leaders.

The trainer's opinion of a top-class field gains credence from the entries, featuring only Headley Grange and Angel Capital without Group 1 triumphs, as previous winners Jimmysstar, Magic Time and Giga Kick defend in this Saturday's race.

Discover leading online bookmakers offering racing betting markets for the All Aged Stakes.