Back from an effective riding engagement in Japan, Rachel King turns her attention to the Sydney autumn carnival, highlighting her partnership with the barely raced three-year-old gelding Green Spaces in the Randwick Guineas.
King’s high opinion of the Bjorn Baker runner led her to interrupt her Japanese trip to trial the gelding before continuing abroad.
She missed his Hobartville Stakes (1400m) return due to Hobartville Stakes commitments overseas, but will be in place for the Group 1 on Saturday.
“I flew back from Japan halfway through my trip especially to trial him,” King said.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in the horse. He’s very casual and he only does what he has to, but I think there is a lot more under the bonnet than what we’ve seen so far.”
Having impressed with a strong win in Newcastle’s Spring Stakes (1600m) last November, Green Spaces dulled to sixth when weakening in the Hobartville.
According to King, excess freshness caused him to race too forward, and now cleared, she looks for improved relaxation this time.
“He was a bit fresh and put himself too close, when he needed to be getting back and running on to show his best,” King said.
“He’s still an inexperienced young horse, so it won’t have done him any harm to get in amongst them and realise what this better racing is all about. Toughen him up a bit.
“He will naturally be more relaxed second-up and want to go to sleep that bit more.
“We will look for him to be doing his best work at the end.”
King envisions a Derby suited to Green Spaces’ nature long-term, pending results from his next couple of races.
She also has the mount on Encap, prepared by Gary Portelli, in the Canterbury Stakes (1600m), emphasising the longshot’s Doncaster credentials.
“He’s one of those who is nearly forgotten most races, and he always bobs up in the finish,” she said.
“He’s a beautiful horse to ride. He has his own way of doing things and you’ve got to let him do his thing.
“But geez, he can rattle off some good sectionals late and hopefully fresh, he’s ready to go, which he looks like he is.”
In good touch, King notched midweek wins at Warwick Farm on Wednesday before Randwick.
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