Give Me Space backed for Queensland Racing Carnival glory

By Jordan Gerrans

Respected Brisbane trainer Barry Lockwood has been backed to finally taste Group 1 glory during the upcoming Queensland Racing Carnival with boom sprinter Give Me Space.

Leading jockeys James Orman – who has ridden Give Me Space on race day - and Andrew Mallyon identified Lockwood’s promising gelding when opinions were canvassed at the Doomben trials earlier this month.

Give Me Space was a popular answer when the question was posed: Name a Queensland-trained horse that you think will win a Group 1 this winter and why?

The son of Cosmic Force has only missed the money once in his seven career starts and was an eye-catching run in the Magic Millions Guineas earlier this year where he just missed out on landing the lucrative prize.

The Group 3 Vo Rogue winner from late in 2024 was handed a wide gate for the Guineas and despite the starting position, hoop Luke Dempsey roared home aboard Give Me Space to just fall short of upsetting eventual champion Bosustow in the finish.

Mallyon – who is having one of his best seasons in the saddle – praised Irishman Dempsey for his steer at the Magic Millions and believes Give Me Space will go on with it on the big stage.

“That is a big chance,” Mallyon said.

“The horse’s runs have been massive. He was very, very unlucky not to win the Magic Millions, he was ridden well from an impossible gate on that day and he was probably a bit stiff not to win.

“That horse has definitely got a good race in it come this winter – it might be a Stradbroke.”

While Lockwood has numerous black-type victories on his resume, he is yet to break through at the highest level.

Following the Magic Millions Guineas, Lockwood put his boom three-year-old in the paddock ahead of a return closer to the Brisbane carnival.

“At this stage the (Queensland Guineas) is the main target and after that, we’ll see if he can stay or not,” Lockwood said earlier this year.

“He’s a lovely horse that can reel off big sectionals so I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do and we do have a lot of options either way.”

Orman was in the seat of Give Me Space on four occasions in races and trials before an injury opened the door for Queensland newcomer Dempsey to take over his riding duties.

Orman has this month headed to Hong Kong for a riding contract.

Whether he will be back in Australia to regain the ride come the winter remains up in the air but, regardless, Orman believes Give Me Space will be a major player in the 2025 carnival.

“I think he is a very progressive horse and I think he has the capabilities to win a Group 1 this year,” Orman said.

The 27-year-old Orman also identified a lesser-known galloper that he has ridden that he thinks will become a major carnival contender.

Despite having just one victory to her name, Autumngirl from the Kelly Schweida barn is a three-year-old with a bright future, according to Brisbane's reigning champion hoop. 

“I think she is a progressive type of filly,” Orman said.

“She will hopefully knock on the door for a Group 1 this winter.”

Give Me Space was not the only galloper who was nominated for winter fortunes when opinions were canvassed at the Doomben trials.

Irishman Martin Harley was quick to go into bat for a couple of horses he has been riding in recent weeks.

And, the horses that Harley rates might already be Group 1 champions by the time the Brisbane winter rolls around.

Harley will pilot rising colt Savour The Dream for Bevan Laming in the $1 million Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday and then potentially the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas in Sydney in March.

Harley will also partner Laming stablemate Our Benefactor in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas in March.

“I do see him potentially stepping forward,” the Irishman said of Savour The Dream.

“If he is a Group 1 horse or not, we are yet to find out, but he is certainly one I am looking forward to riding.

“Between him and Our Benefactor – it is a toss-up between the two of them. I would be disappointed if one of them cannot win a Group 1 before the winter carnival is over.”

Savour The Dream has won his last two against his own age on city Saturdays in Brisbane while Our Benefactor is unbeaten in his last three efforts.

“Obviously they only put me on the good ones, that helps keep the strike-rate up,” Harley said.

“We’ve got a good partnership. The stable kind of leave it up to me for the majority of the time and I think that works well for both of us. Less race pressure and not many instructions is a jockey’s dream."

Hoop Boris Thornton selected Rex Lipp’s Cifrado for Group 1 honours this winter while co-trainer Will Hulbert is hopeful Thee Creek can be competitive against the best juveniles in a few months’ time.