Craig Kerry
Rachel King believes “naughty teenager” Green Spaces is getting his mind back on the job in time for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) as the star Sydney jockey chases another Victorian first.
King won the Caulfield Guineas at her first attempt last Saturday when Bjorn Baker-trained colt Warwoven backed up his Golden Rose victory at Rosehill with another dominant group 1 performance. The English-born jockey became the first female rider to win those races.
She will aim for another first-attempt win next week when she partners Warwoven in the Cox Plate at Flemington. In between, she heads to Caulfield on Saturday for a first ride in the $6 million staying feature.
“My first-ever ride at Caulfield won, Manicure, a few years ago,” King said.
“James [Cummings] sent me down to ride Deprive in a group 1 [2019 Sir Rupert Clarke] and he chucked something in earlier in the day, so I could have a look around the track, and it was Manicure. She came out and won, and I thought, this is easy.
“My first winner down the straight was in the [2023] Coolmore [Stud Stakes with Ozzmosis], so hopefully I can keep it going in group 1s.”
Godolphin entire Green Spaces, which took King to a first Australian Derby win for a female jockey in April, has been set for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, but his form has been mixed.
The Baker-trained stayer was off the pace two starts ago when 11th in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) after steady runs in the Winx and Chelmsford Stakes.
King was encouraged by Green Spaces’ most recent effort when fourth in the Metropolitan as he stepped out to 2400m. She hoped Baker could again have him primed for his target race, although his draw in 18 was a concern.
“They timed it well for a grand final last prep, so I think they can do the same again,” she said.
“The preparation has been designed especially around this race.
“His first couple of runs were really good. Two runs ago was probably a bit fair, but it was a day where it was probably tricky to make ground. That last run was a tick back in the right direction, definitely, and his work since then has been a lot better.
“I was describing him as a colt that’s getting a bit like a naughty teenager. Just starting to have a little think about things and stuff like that, but since his last run, he’s been a lot more on the ball, mind on the job.
“He’s obviously got the ability there. We know that because he’s a group 1 winner, but he’s just got to do things right, which I think he will on Saturday, although it’s a tricky gate.
“Over that kind of distance, it probably evens it out a little bit. We’ll sort of see how the track’s playing and things like that. There’ll be enough pressure, there always is in a group 1.
“I think it was only a month ago, he was still favourite for the race, so he has got the form there for it. That was part of the reason why I was alway going to try to follow him down there.”
King also has chances at Caulfield with NSW-trained runners Dance To The Boom ($13) in the Alinghi Stakes, Williadow ($10) in the Harry White Stakes and Hidden Motive ($9) in the group 2 sprint.
She won twice early in the career of Baker-trained mare Dance To The Boom, which has gate two.
“She’s been a little bit in and out of form, I guess, but I galloped her on Tuesday and she was really good,” King said.
“I’m really happy with the trials and she’s drawn soft.
“Willaidow, I had to sit on him the other day. He seemed like he was going well.”