Joe Pride will look to give Headley Grange another chance to earn a Big Dance berth.

An uncharacteristically below par run from the usually consistent Headley Grange left Joe Pride scratching his head but all was explained when he returned to the winner's list at Rosehill.

Pride took the gelding north for last month's South Grafton Cup (1600m), a qualifying race for the Big Dance, and was disappointed when he could finish only sixth having posted back-to-back Sydney wins in June.

The trainer suspected Headley Grange didn't stretch out on the firm track and his theory was confirmed when the gelding relished Saturday's heavy 10 conditions to land his ninth win from 20 starts in the National Jockeys Trust Handicap (1500m).

"I'm just glad to see him bounce back," Pride said.

"The other day was a head scratcher until I saw how well he pulled up and how he'd go today, so I'm going to say it was the firm track.

"I really felt that track was too hard for him and I wouldn't run him on a surface that firm again. He doesn't have to have them this wet but he enjoys tracks with the sting out of them."

A Listed winner two starts ago, Headley Grange is likely to be given another opportunity at a similar level in the coming weeks, although Pride is yet to settle on a target.

He wants to give him another shot at qualifying for the Big Dance in November but says there is plenty of water to flow under the bridge before then.

"At some point I probably want to give him another go at a Big Dance qualifier but I'm going to have to map something out and work out where to go," he said.

"I'm not sure where his ceiling is. I don't think he's a serious Group horse but I think he's a really nice horse. He has already won one black-type race and I'm sure there's plenty more to come."

Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, Headley Grange ($3.70) ran out a comfortable two-length winner over Diamond Diesel ($20) with Pride also saddling up third placegetter Estadio Mestalla ($5).