Early double strengthens Zac Lloyd’s grip

Zac Lloyd strengthened his grip on the Sydney Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership with an early double at Canterbury on Wednesday.

The gun young rider engineered an upset result in the opening event aboard Mural Crown before getting the well-supported How Dare You home in Race 2.

The early double for James Cummings at the penultimate Sydney meeting of the season took Lloyd to 76 city winners for the season, three more than Dylan Gibbons.

“It’s the perfect start to the day, but I’m having some nice rides for the boss, which helps,” Lloyd said.

Lloyd’s win aboard Mural Crown came over $2.5 million yearling Magic, who was ridden by Gibbons, and he was thrilled to play his part in the Epaulette colt’s debut win after partnering him at his past two trials.

“I was fortunate enough to trial him his past few trials and it all panned out nicely in the trials, I was really able to educate him nicely and he came here today and executed perfectly,” Lloyd said.

“The barrier helped and I didn’t have to think much on the bend, the horse in front of me rolled off, and he executed really nicely and was very strong to the line. It was a nice win.”

Mural Crown, a $9 chance, scored by just over half-a-length from Magic ($7) with heavily-backed $1.55 favourite Les Vampires close up third.

How Dare You was well-backed late to start $4.80 and benefitted from a rails-hugging ride from Lloyd to wear down Tautou and score a half-length win.

“I came here today with a lot of confidence with this filly,” Lloyd said of the daughter of Zoustar, who was having her first run in New South Wales after three unplaced runs in Victoria.

“She was just struggling a bit mentally early and I think that showed with her runs, but her trial showed to me that she’d matured and she’s shown today that she’s come along nicely and it’s full steam ahead up to better grades.”

The 2022/23 metropolitan season wraps up with Saturday’s Randwick meeting, where Lloyd has rides in all 10 races and Gibbons nine.