The gelding Headley Grange has rewarded Adam Hyeronimus with six wins across eight outings, prompting his owners to back the jockey for top results in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick.
Opening his latest preparation with flair, the five-year-old stormed to fourth close to Joliestar in his return in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and followed with another bold finish for fifth to Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
On the downside, during his last start in the Doncaster Mile (1600m), behavioral issues surfaced as he became unsettled and hard to box, ending up seventh.
Joe Pride, trainer of the horse, expects Hyeronimus’s presence to promote a calmer approach this coming Saturday.
“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.”
Headley Grange acts like “a kid’s pony” at the stable, Pride observed, but race-day nerves sometimes overwhelm him.
Complementing Hyeronimus’s return – marked by six victories on board, notably the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) from barrier 17 last spring – Pride will utilize pacifiers prior to running.
“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.”
In the All Aged Stakes (1400m), Headley Grange jumps from barrier 14 on the outside, with Pride planning for him to stride early and hold a prominent spot.
Reinforcing Pride’s take on an elite field are the competitors: only Headley Grange and Angel Capital lack Group 1 wins, while Jimmysstar, Magic Time and Giga Kick, the last three race winners, line up again Saturday.
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