Racing
Baker and King add their names to Derby honour roll with Green Spaces
Trainer Bjorn Baker enhanced a family tradition as Rachel King rode Godolphin colt Green Spaces to an historic win in the Group 1 $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Baker achieved a career goal by winning the Derby, emulating his father, legendary New Zealand trainer Murray Baker who prepared five winners of the famous Randwick classic.
The Derby is one of the nation's oldest feature races with its first running in 1861, the same year as the inaugural Melbourne Cup won by Archer.
Baker confirmed his long-term plan is to set Green Spaces for the Melbourne Cup after the colt's impressive win.
"Melbourne Cup - bring it on!" Baker said
And King's ride was tactically perfect as she became the first female jockey to win the Derby – just 40 minutes after Jamie Melham's win on Sheza Alibi in the Doncaster Mile.
"This is just so satisfying,'' King said.
"I've had some much belief in this horse, the whole team has, they've done an amazing job and Bjorn has timed the colt's Derby preparation to perfection.
"He's a beautiful horse and I was very confident he would stay. He relaxed so well and did everything I asked.''
Green Spaces ($4.40) showed superior staying ability when he streaked away to win the Derby by more than three lengths from Dezignation ($151) with Storm Leopard ($4.60) a long neck away third.
Observer was sent out the $3 favourite and tried hard to finish fifth but wasn't entirely comfortable in the "shifty" track conditions.
But it is hard to make excuses for those who finished behind Green Spaces as he was so utterly dominant.
Baker said he had set Green Spaces with the Derby in mind since the colt was a runaway winner of the Group 3 Spring Stakes at the Newcastle stand-alone meeting last November.
"This is so special, what a great watch,'' 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 him any better going into today.
"Every time I looked at him in the box, his coat was great, he was in the zone, and his work on Tuesday was great."
Baker admitted he leaned on his father for advice this week given Murray had won the Derby five times in 12 years with Quick Thinker (2020), Jon Snow (2017), Mongolian Khan (2015), It's A Dundeel (2013) and Nom Du Jeu (2008).
"I spoke to Murray a lot this week, I asked him what would you do with this horse,'' Baker said.
"He said don't leave him short son. Then when the rain came this morning, I was very confident he was fit enough."
Baker then singled out King for particular praise after her Derby-winning ride.
"Rachel's done so much work for our stable and she delivers, she delivers on the big stage,'' Baker said.
"She rode him perfectly today, it was an exceptional ride.''
King returned the favour, describing Baker as a "massive supporter of mine".
"I disappear for a month to ride in Japan but he's always there for me when I come back,'' King said.
"I made an effort this year to come back and trial this horse during my trip because I wanted to stay with the colt so thanks to Bjorn and the Godolphin team for sticking with me.''
Green Spaces is the fourth individual Group 1 winner this season for Godolphin-Darley's exceptional stallion Street Boss, after Tentyris, Tempted and Pericles.
Street Boss is also the sire of champion and former Horse of the Year Anamoe.
Dezignation, trained by Matthew Smith, ran a great race for second, finishing off the testing Derby 2400m stronger than any of his rivals with the obvious exception of the outstanding Green Spaces.
"He has run out of his skin,'' said jockey Tyler Schiller, rider of Dezignation. "He stays all day.''
Tommy Berry, rider of Storm Leopard, thought he was on the Derby winner when he came through along the inside of Observer on the turn and raced to the front.
"I thought it was an extraordinary effort off the back up,'' Berry said of Storm Leopard, who won the Tulloch Stakes last week.
"The winner was set for the race and won accordingly but Storm Leopard has a bright future in the staying ranks.''
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