Racing
Green Spaces wins Group 1 ATC Australian Derby: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes after the Group 1 ATC Australian Derby at Randwick on Saturday taken out by Green Spaces.
Race Result:1st: Green Spaces (B Baker/R King) - $4.402nd: Dezignation (M Smith/T Schiller) - $151
3rd: Storm Leopard (B, W & JD Hayes/T Berry) - $4.60
Winning Time: 2:32.84 Last 600m: 36.36
Margins: 3¼L x Long Neck
reen Spaces gaps them in the G1 Australian Derby - and @RachelK11 writes her name in history and becomes the first woman to ride a Derby winner! @BBakerRacing @godolphin pic.twitter.com/D1HgUxbQNn
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 4, 2026
Winning Trainer: Bjorn Baker
On the win: "So special, what a great watch, 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."
On the winner: "Every time I looked at him in the box, his coat was great, he is in the zone, his work on Tuesday was great."
On another Baker winning a Derby: "I spoke to Murray a lot this week, I asked him what would you do, he said don't leave him short son, the rain came this morning and I was very confident he was fit enough."
"Wasn't necessarily the greatest thing winning the first race of the day as I thought I might over-race going towards the Derby, but I was able to relax pretty well and throughout the run it was a great watch."
"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. Melbourne Cup - bring it on!"
Winning Jockey: Rachel King
On winning the Derby: "Just satisfying, I've had some much belief in this horse, the whole team has, they've done an amazing job and Bjorn has just timed it to perfection. Set him perfectly."
On Green Spaces: "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."
On her partnership with Bjorn: "Massive supporter of mine, especially when I disappear for a month to ride in Japan, but he's always there for me when I come back, I made an effort this year to come back and trial him during my trip, I was just so adamant to stay on him, so thanks to Bjorn and the Godolphin team for sticking with me."
Beaten Jockeys:
James McDonald (Observer): "He went super. He just wants quicker ground than that."
Zac Purton (Road To Paris): "The mid-race pace didn't really suit him. Didn't finish the race off."
Damian Lane (Deal Done Fast): "He ran well. Just gets difficult to get into a winnable position when he walks out of the barriers today and lost contact with the field from the 800m then gets home well. A horse with talent but making it difficult for himself."
Tommy Berry (Storm Leopard): "Extraordinary effort off the back up. The winner was set for the race and won accordingly. He has a bright future in the staying ranks. Looking forward to seeing where he ends up."
Zac Lloyd (One Step Closer): "Copped a bump out of the barriers which put me a pair or two further back. When Tyler got on his bike I was able to move in with them and he was strong performance."
Dylan Gibbons (Federalist): "A combination of not seeing the trip out and didn't like the footing underneath."
Ben Melham (Savisanta): "We had a good resting run. Just felt he never lengthened out in the straight. A bit short behind."
Luke Nolen (Victorious Spirit): "Just not quite mature enough. Will be a better horse in 12 months."
Mark Zahra (Kaye Jay): " He ran fantastic."
Michael Dee (Bingi): "Just doesn't stay."
Ashley Morgan (Are You Kidding): "Got a bump out of the gates and that lit him up. For him to run well he needed to get that first part of the race right."
Tyler Schiller (Dezignation): "He has run out of his skin. Stays all day and just kept plodding to the line. Very strong staying performance."
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