Young jockey Zac Lloyd triumphs in Golden Slipper
Shortly after top jockey James McDonald locked in his legacy within Australian racing annals, 22-year-old Zac Lloyd propelled himself into the spotlight as a key prospect in the game through a brilliant ride to victory in the $5 million Golden Slipper.
Ahead lay a phalanx of competitors for the young rider astride Great House partway along the straight, but maintaining poise, he carved out passage to thrust the colt into the lead for an authoritative conquest.
Representing the first success for a Victorian galloper since Crystal Lily's 2010 edition, Great House at $11 triumphed by 1-1/2 lengths from Blue Diamond Stakes victor Streisand ($7.50), as Canberra's Music Time ($1) secured a brave third spot, half a length further adrift.
Lloyd revealed that tracking none other than McDonald's partnered Fireball in the journey convinced him of his advantageous placement.
"I got on the back of the best jockey in the world, and I thought, here we go," Lloyd said.
"I was just waiting for a run but geez, he let down so well. I'm so pleased for the big ownership group, and for (trainers) Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, and Ben Elam who works here in Sydney."
His initial Golden Slipper appearance came last year with an unplaced finish on King Of Pop, leaving him "speechless" upon securing the prize at his subsequent attempt in the premier two-year-old event worldwide.
Sydney's premier apprentice for 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, Lloyd praised his kin for steering his progress, notably his sire, retired jockey Jeff Lloyd.
"My dad is probably balling his eyes out. He is quite an emotional man," Lloyd said.
"But I wouldn't be half the rider I am without him, and I wouldn't be a quarter of the person I am without my mum and my dad. And to my brother (fellow jockey) Jaden, he's going to be the happiest person on planet earth."
The win provided trainers with their breakthrough Slipper after prior runner-up finishes in the colts and geldings Blue Diamond Prelude plus Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
Previously, Price had twice filled minor spots solo in the feature, with Samaready (2012) and Flying Artie (2016), and Kent Jnr beamed with joy for his collaborator's long-awaited breakthrough.
"It's so right for Mick. I'm so lucky I work with Mick. He's had so many close calls in this race. He's a great two-year-old trainer," Kent Jnr said.
"And what a horse. He won by a big margin, going away, so fantastic."
Rider Ben Melham hailed Streisand's second as "super gallant", while Pierre Boudvillain on Music Time shared equal enthusiasm for the effort.
"Very proud of the horse the whole country team," Boudvillain said.
The $5.50 favourite Chayan wound up eighth, as jockey Craig Williams observed her timing had expired.
"She didn't run up to her form, unfortunately," Williams said.
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