Zac Lloyd edges ahead in premiership battle

Zac Lloyd has shot to the front in the race for the Sydney apprentices’ title, booting home a trio of winners at Rosehill to overtake rival Dylan Gibbons with just two meetings of the season remaining.

Gibbons went into Saturday’s 10-race card with a two-win lead but after two of his mounts were race morning scratchings, he was unable to add to his tally in seven rides.

Lloyd made his intentions clear from the start, bringing Soami with a sweeping run in the opening race to claim the Midway Handicap (1300m) then bagging an early double two races later when successful aboard Eaglemont in the Highway Plate (1500m).

He was unlucky not to land another one in between when Inhibitions was badly held up for a run and finished third to Taormina in the two-year-old event.

“If I got a run, I think I would have won,” Lloyd said.

“That is the way it goes sometimes. Sometimes you get the luck, sometimes you don’t. She’s in for a good prep.”

He had to wait a few more races but Lloyd eventually got his treble, guiding Victorian mare to a narrow victory in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m).

It took his season tally of Sydney wins to 73, edging him one clear of Gibbons and ensuring the title race goes down to the wire with only two city meetings remaining – Wednesday’s Canterbury program and next weekend’s Randwick card.

“One clear now. There is still a long way to go,” Lloyd said.

“The job is not over.”

Gibbons had an afternoon he’d rather forget, not only having to watch on as Lloyd surged into pole position for the apprentices’ crown, but also finding himself on the wrong end of stewards.

The 21-year-old was suspended for careless riding aboard Chase My Crown in the Highway Plate, albeit the two-meeting penalty won’t affect his title chances as it doesn’t begin until Sunday week.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott took training honours at Rosehill with a treble of their own courtesy of two-year-old Taormina and geldings Kangaroo Court and Omni Man.

The trifecta of wins continued the stable’s winter form surge with Waterhouse and Bott producing eight winners from their past 20 runners.