Headley Grange continued his remarkable rise through the ranks with a brilliant win in Saturday’s $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill, confirming himself as one of Sydney’s most consistent and progressive gallopers.

Trained by Joe Pride, the son of Exosphere overcame a wide draw and tough run to storm home under Adam Hyeronimus, defeating race favourite Gringotts ($3.30) by half a length, with General Salute ($8.50) another three-quarters of a length away in third.

“It’s pretty amazing, he’s done an incredible job this horse the last sort of six months — he’s exceeded all expectations,” Pride said. “Beating a Group 1 winner like Gringotts at this track and distance is a fair effort. He really is bombproof.”

It was Headley Grange’s fifth win this preparation and 11th from 22 career starts, continuing a rich vein of form that has seen him evolve from benchmark grade to big-money races in under a year.

Hyeronimus, who has partnered the gelding to six of his victories, praised the horse’s toughness and his trainer’s patient approach. “I think I first rode him in January this year, and it’s now my sixth win on him,” he said. “He just keeps improving. Joe did a great job bringing him through the grades, using each race as a stepping stone.”

Pride confirmed the The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day as the next target. “He’s starting to creep up in the weights, but it didn’t worry him today,” Pride said. “I think the mile is his best distance.”

Following his latest win, Headley Grange has firmed into $4 favouritism for The Big Dance.

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