Redoubtable gelding Headley Grange took his role as an Inglis Digital poster boy to stunning new heights when he became an elite and weight-for-age winner in the May 30 Kingsford-Smith Cup (G1) at Eagle Farm Racecourse.
Trained by a master of second-hand horses in Joe Pride and well ridden by quiet achiever Adam Hyeronimus, Headley Grange lined up as a solid AU$9 chance after a freshen-up following four consistent, if unplaced, runs in the Sydney autumn.
Most money went the way of Ciaron Maher's Jimmysstar, who pursued a first win in five starts since November, while Chris Waller's Fangirl was also fancied.
And the market had it right, if perhaps not in the right order, as the only three runners in single-figure odds filled the trifecta.
Jumping from gate 3 of 16, Headley Grange traveled strongly in fifth, one off the fence, behind what was a healthy pace, while Jimmysstar from gate 12 had to contend with being three-wide without cover a length off the leaders.
Maher's Another Wil, who'd traveled in second, did well to hold the lead for much of the straight, but while Jimmysstar tried valiantly to haul him in it was Headley Grange poking through the pack to the inside who won the day, if narrowly. He edged Jimmysstar by a short head, while Fangirl made enormous ground after straightening near last, finishing a further neck back.
Headley Grange's win capped a wonderful story of a horse relied upon for his consistent, tradesman-like performances who can now be hailed as a group 1 winner.
Providence Wins Queensland Derby
The late Wootton Bassett's legacy has been extended by his first Australian-bred elite winner after Chris Waller and James McDonald continued their phenomenal run of success with Providence's win the Queensland Derby (G1).
In a quinella for Waller and the China Horse Club-Newgate Farm axis, the strapping colt led home Monopolistic by a length, with Les Bridge's AU$91 longshot Inspired Legend taking third a further three-quarters of a length away.
Chasing only his second win at start number 15, Providence was solid in betting as a AU$5 second elect for Saturday's Eagle Farm classic following his eye-catching third in Doomben Racecourse's Rough Habit Plate (G3).
Jumping from gate 6 of 18, McDonald had Providence traveling sweetly just behind midfield, one off the fence as they went at a genuine pace.
McDonald eased well wide as the field drifted away from the fence around the home turn on the soft 5 track, and the colt responded with a brilliant burst of acceleration. He chased down the leaders to hit the front at the 300 meters and dashed to a decisive 2-length break, while third favorite Monopolistic followed him home.
Providence's AU$600,000 first prize made Wootton Bassett—who died at Coolmore Australia last spring while standing at an Australian shuttle record fee of AU$385,000—another contender in an intriguing second-season sires' battle.
