He is the early favourite for the Caulfield Cup and expected to perform well over longer distances, but jockey Rachel King is not ruling out Green Spaces causing a stir in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick.

The Australian Derby winner was doing his best work late when finishing eighth behind Autumn Glow in the Winx Stakes (1400m) last month. While the mile of the Chelmsford Stakes is shorter than his ideal, he did win Newcastle’s Spring Stakes over the same distance as a three-year-old.

King, who was in the saddle that day, suggested the entire remains a contender for this weekend’s race.

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” King said.

“I know it was only a Spring Stakes at Newcastle, but he did win that over a mile convincingly so he can do it over this distance. It’s obviously a different gravy against these types of horses, but the way he ran first-up against those really top class weight-for-age horses, he’s in for a really good ‘prep’.”

With Attica being scratched and set to contest the Tramway Stakes (1400m), Green Spaces will face eight rivals in the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m), including Ceolwulf, Fangirl, and last year’s winner Lindermann.

King anticipates that Green Spaces will get an economical run from his rails draw and finish strongly.

“He’ll appreciate stepping up in trip and it’s a slightly easier field. He’s not against some of the superstars like he was first-up, but there are still good horses in it,” she commented.

“Drawn a nicer gate as well makes it a little bit easier. He’s building up towards his pet distance, not quite there yet, but I think he can still run a good race on Saturday.”

King has rides in nine of the ten races at Randwick, with four of them for Green Spaces’ trainer Bjorn Baker, including filly Rachini in the Furious Stakes (1400m).