3 minute read
It came as a surprise to rising star apprentice Zac Lloyd to discover how high he’s sitting on the Sydney Jockeys Premiership and that he's striking about the same as James McDonald.
But then again, talking to the 19-year-old, you soon discover how switched on and focused he is on making the most of the opportunity to be apprenticed at Godolphin under James Cummings and Darren Beadman.
With 21 winners from 103 rides so far Zac Lloyd is in fourth place and a good weekend would see him move past Hugh Bowman, who is riding in Hong Kong, into third.
There's no shortage of mentors for the teenager, son of former champion South African jockey Jeff Lloyd, who has never wanted to do anything but ride.
"It was pretty much my only plan,'' he said.
"I went through all of school choosing subjects that I thought would benefit my riding, accountancy in case I had a lot of money, so I've done everything to put myself in this position.
"Luckily I didn't hit a massive growth spurt and had to change to basketball or something."
Lloyd joined Godolphin in May this year, an honour given the small number of apprentices to be taken under the wing of the global racing empire's Australian arm, with 94 career wins under his belt and he has his sights set on the apprentice premiership at the end of the season.
A career best four metro winners at Canterbury on November 25 served notice that Lloyd has what it takes to give the likes of reigning champ Tyler Schiller and another emerging star Dylan Gibbons a run for their money but he's wary it only gets harder once his 2kg claim disappears.
"I've surprised myself with how many winners I've accumulated in a short time so it's going really well,'' he said.
"I started two months after everyone this season, I only came into town at the end of September so to be there this early is quite a good achievement.
"I have very good support with James and Godolphin which is a big help but I'm happy with how I'm riding.
"Hopefully it keeps rolling forward and I get the same support with my claim going down because it will get tougher.
"It's a lot of pressure. If I go wrong it's probably all my fault, I have the best of the best to deal with so it's all up to me. I speak to Darren every day and James is also good to speak to.
"As long as I choose to take my opportunities it should all go well."
Lloyd has seven rides at Canterbury on Friday night and heads to Royal Randwick on Saturday with a number of chances to add to his tally.
He reunites with Mudgee Cup winner Camaguey in the NJT Honours Pam O'Neill OAM (1600m) having partnered the gelding to a win at Hawkesbury in November.
He proved up to Saturday grade with a close third at Kembla Grange's The Gong meeting, prior to earning himself a Big Dance berth at Mudgee, and Lloyd said the race sets up well for him on paper.
"He's quite surprised a fair few people I think. He's gone through the grades nicely and found himself in Saturday class now,'' he said.
"He's racing well and it's always good to get on a horse racing well. I think it is a good race for him.
"It doesn't look to be an overly strong race and with the barrier I think he is definitely a very good chance."
Superium is facing an 18 month run of outs in the Ranvet Handicap (1400m) but Lloyd said there was enough in his fast-finishing fifth in the Listed Razor Sharp (1200m) last week to suggest he could break the drought.
The gelding ran a race best 33.28 (Punter's Intelligence) for his last 600m, possibly a reaction to the blinkers going on.
"He gives you a good feel but the first time I rode him he felt like he didn't put in all the effort he had,'' he said.
"They opted to put blinkers on last start and off a dawdling tempo he made up a lot of ground and was very eye-catching. If I can keep him happy and his mind right, as long as he wants to race, I'm sure he will run well.
"We'll need a good tempo and clean run, but he should find a more favourable tempo with horses like Coal Crusher running along at a nice clip."
The market says Lloyd's best ride at Randwick will be Dehorned Unicorn in the ATC Tree Planting For Queen's Jubilee Handicap (1200m).
It'll be his first ride on the Joe Pride-trained sprinter, $3.70 with TAB on Thursday, and he hopes the 6.5kg advantage on the favourite I Am Me will be enough.
"I'm happy that Mr Pride has given me the ride. It's quite unfortunate we have to run into I Am Me, with barrier one and James Mcdonald,'' he said.
"With the big weight difference I think he's in with a definite chance and he's a horse racing well."
