Lloyd and Price-Kent duo taste Doncaster Prelude success with Welwal
During the Sydney autumn carnival, jockey Zac Lloyd produced a remarkable four wins at Rosehill, with the standout being his Group 1 win on the Kiwi filly Belle Cheval in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
A mere seven days on from his $5 million Golden Slipper conquest with Guest House – among three victories that weekend – Lloyd demonstrated his skill anew.
Starting strong, he guided Annie’s Rose to victory in the Midway Handicap (1300m), then triumphed with Belle Cheval in the Vinery (2000m), Idle Flyer in the Emancipation Stakes (1500m), and Welwal in the Doncaster Prelude (1500m).
Welwal, under the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr who also handled Guest House, thrived with blinkers applied and on the rain-impacted surface, securing his first success post-November 2024.
"He was fantastic, that horse. Geez, he let rip and he's won that convincingly," Lloyd said.
"The blinkers have done good work, and he was just there ready to go."
The Doncaster Prelude victor earns a ballot exemption for the Doncaster Mile (1600m) the following Saturday, though Welwal lacks nomination and late supplementation due to handicap constraints.
The win left trainer Price elated, calling it just rewards following a series of tough breaks.
"Trainers always say, my horse had no luck after the race, but it is true," Price said.
"He needs a bit of room around him and a soft track, and this distance, and he's a nice horse.
(Owner) Alf Gauci has been a client of ours for thirty years and hopefully he's having a few tears right now, because he does wear his heart on his sleeve."
Priced at $11, Welwal displayed sharp acceleration late to win by 1-1/2 lengths ahead of Feroce ($12), with Lord Penman ($15) rallying for third spot, a further three-quarters back.
Visit the online bookmakers to find the best markets for the Doncaster Prelude rematch interest.
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