Lightly raced three-year-old Green Spaces notched his most impressive victory when third-up during the spring, with his team aiming for a similar result in the Rosehill Guineas.
The Godolphin colt claimed a dominant three-length success in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle back in November, leading trainer Bjorn Baker to give him a spell targeting the Sydney autumn carnival.
“He was exceptional third-up last time in the Spring Stakes at Newcastle, so we’re following that same path, although he’s up to 2000 (metres),” Baker said.
“Everything we see suggests that will suit him.
“Having said that, it’s going to be a tough race, no doubt about it. But he’s actually deceivingly fast, so if he can get a nice run in transit and relax, I’m sure he is going to be strong late.”
Returning from a break, he raced prominently before weakening to finish sixth in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m), then dropped back to last in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) where he closed powerfully late to grab sixth spot behind dominant winner Sheza Alibi.
Sired by Street Boss from Redoute’s Choice mare Outdoor, Green Spaces shares the same pedigree cross as Godolphin’s 2022 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) champion Anamoe, whose dam Anamato was another Redoute’s Choice daughter.
The colt sits on the second line of bookmakers for the ATC Australian Derby (2400m), and jockey Rachel King showed such strong belief in him that she returned from a stint riding in Japan specifically to ride him in a February barrier trial.
Baker noted that her assurance is infectious.
“For sure it does. She believes in him. She always has,” he said.
“The way he has been galloping recently, it’s hard not to have a bit of confidence going into the Rosehill Guineas.”
Godolphin fields another contender in Ciaron Maher’s Observer for Saturday’s feature, the Victoria Derby victor who remains undefeated in two Melbourne runs this preparation, capped by his Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) triumph last month.
He steps out for the first time in Sydney at Rosehill as the $2.70 second favourite behind Autumn Boy ($2.10), while Green Spaces is at $12.
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