Having just his third start since transferring into the Bjorn Baker stable, Street Boss colt Green Spaces continued the outstanding stakes winning run of Godolphin bred and raced runners, winning the $250,000 Group 3 NJC Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle by three lengths.
One of five runners to start away under double figure odds, jockey Rachel King jumped Green Spaces away well from the inside barrier, going forward to settle in fifth with Bird Whistle and Long Legs both pushing forward to settle a few lengths ahead of the remainder of the field.
At the 800m mark, last start winner Long Legs was three lengths clear of Bird Whistle, with the Gary Portelli trained leader further extending her lead where she cornered full of running under Tyler Schiller.
With Tom Sherry aboard race favourite Grand Prairie starting to come along the rail to put himself into the picture, King had managed to steer Green Spaces away from the rail and across the heels of those in front to make her run down the outside.
Entitled to drop out after doing plenty of work, Long Legs continued to battle on, as Bird Whistle and Green Spaces came up on her outside, with the Godolphin colt sprinting away.
Impressing in the run to the line, Green Spaces pulled away by three lengths to record his first black type win with the Braith Nock ridden Bird Whistle battling on for second, a quarter of a length ahead of Long Legs in third.
The victory of Green Spaces takes his overall record to three wins from six starts with earnings of $200,200.
Bjorn Baker's racing manager, Luke Hilton was on hand post-race and felt that his last start victory at Wyong gave the colt further confidence leading into
“He struts out at home like he owns the joint,” Hilton said.
“I think he's going to get a trip and I think there are better things for him in the autumn."
Having ridden him in four of his six starts, King feels there is still plenty to come from the colt.
“He's a lovely horse. He's got that great, natural ability, he's got a fantastic attitude, and he's still learning,” King said.
“He hit the front and still had a wander today. I felt like, if something had come to him, he had plenty more there. I like a lot about him.
“He is becoming more professional every time he steps out so if he keeps going on the upwards trajectory that he is, I don't know where he will end up.
Bred by Godolphin, Green Spaces is the one of six winners, three at black type level, from six to the races out of the well-bred Redoute’s Choice mare Outdoor whose flagship performer as a broodmare is the Group 1 BRC Stradbroke Hand and Group 1 SAJC Goodwood Handicap winner Trekking (Street Cry).
With the grand-dam of Green Spaces being Group 1 VRC Oaks and Group 1 AJC Oaks winner Serenade Rose, it would not surprise to see the Group 3-winning colt get over further as he matures.
Outdoor unfortunately missed to Palace Pier (GB) the year after foaling Green Spaces, before producing a colt by Pinatubo (IRE) and is due to foal this season to Harry Angel (IRE).
Green Spaces became the 85th individual stakes winner for Street Boss (USA) who has been having a great run of late with the likes of Tentyris, Pericles, Tempted and Calamari Ring all recording quality stakes performances.
Street Boss is coming to the end of covering his 16th book of mares in Australia where he stood at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST) this season.
