Baker’s Green Spaces a cut above in Australian Derby
Trainer Bjorn Baker was thrilled to emulate his father Murray in winning the Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) at Randwick on Saturday as Godolphin colt Green Spaces (Street Boss) continued his sire’s hot run of success with a dominant victory.
Well supported at $4.40 and ridden superbly by Rachel King, Green Spaces settled midfield while a moderate pace was set by Godolphin’s more fancied runner Observer (Ghaiyyath), the $3 favourite.
So dominant in winning the VRC Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) last spring and the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) earlier this preparation, Observer was a beaten force by the 300 metres as another son of Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) Storm Leopard ($4.60) – took the lead soon after straightening.
But while that $4.60 chance gave his backers hope early in the straight, Green Spaces was unwinding with an irresistible run down the centre of the track, and he came away to win by 3.2 lengths.
Dezignation (So You Think) – the rank outside of the field at $151 – again showed trainer Matt Smith’s knack with longshots in major races, finishing stoutly to be the best of the rest in second place, while Storm Leopard held on for third and Observer managed fifth.
Green Spaces follows his three-quarter brother Trekking (Street Cry) in becoming the second Group 1 victor from six runners for their dam Outdoor (Redoute’s Choice).
Baker, the Warwick Farm-based expat Kiwi, is renowned for never letting slip the chance to celebrate, but this win meant more than most.
New Zealand-based Murray Baker has a powerful reputation as a trainer of young stayers, and has won the Australian Derby five times, as well as – by Bjorn’s recollection – the VRC Derby, two New Zealand Derbies (Gr 1, 2400m) and a Wellington Derby (Gr 2, 2400m).
And thus a breakthrough Derby victory had Bjorn high on emotion at Randwick, saying he’d spoken to his father about the race several times in the past week.
“He said, ‘Don’t leave him short son, don’t leave him short’,” said the younger Baker, who’d assured his father he hadn’t. “I said, ‘Murray, we’re not training for jumps!’ It’s not Warrnambool.
“But you know what – fitness always wins.
“It’s so special. We’re very proud.”
Baker, who also saddled Blue Door (Stay Inside) for a tough debut success in the Kindergarten Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) in the opening race on Saturday’s card, was high on confidence about Green Spaces following his fast-finishing second in the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) but also based on his trackwork during the week.
“I was very confident he would win and I thought he might put a space on them, and he did,” Baker said.
“When they are in the zone like that – his trackwork has been in the zone – I was very confident. I couldn’t have had him any better going into today.
“Every time I looked at him in the box, his coat was great. He’s in the zone and his work on Tuesday was great.
“The rain came this morning and I was very confident he was fit enough.”
Celebrating his 12th Group 1, Baker was also delighted for his jockey and friend King, who scored her eighth.
He forecast the pair might aim to bring up another one with Green Spaces at Flemington in November.
“She’s done so much work for our stable and she delivers, she delivers on the big stage. She rode him perfectly today, it was an exceptional ride,” he said.
“And I love taking Victoria’s money, so Melbourne Cup – bring it on!”
King was in turn full of praise for Green Spaces, and his trainer.
“It’s just satisfying,” the winning rider said. “I’ve had so much belief in this horse, the whole team has. They’ve done an amazing job and Bjorn has just timed it to perfection.
“He’s a beautiful horse and it set up perfectly for him today. I was very confident it would. He just relaxed so well, did everything I asked – a very satisfying win.”
Bred by Darley, Green Spaces is one of three stakes winners for Outdoor, with dual Group 1-winning sprinter Trekking also joined on that list by Winnie Star, a Listed victor in Macau. Outdoor has also thrown the stakes-placed Plymstock (Ribchester).
A three-time winner for Anthony Freedman, Outdoor now has a yearling colt by Pinatubo (Shamardal) and a weanling colt by Harry Angel (Dark Angel), and was covered by new Darley sire Traffic Warden (Street Boss) last December.
The 21-year-old Street Boss, who stood at Darley’s Northwood Park last spring for $66,000 (inc GST), is enjoying an exceptional run of form.
With elite winners this year in Tentyris, Tempted and Pericles, he headed into Saturday ranked seventh on the Australian general sires’ table and emerged one place better, after a previous best finish of tenth in 2023.
Green Spaces became Street Boss’s 14th Group 1 victor, among 88 stakes winners from 1,517 runners at 5.8 per cent.