Only hours following champion rider James McDonald securing his spot in Australian racing lore, emerging jockey Zac Lloyd established himself among the sport’s rising talents via an impressive winning effort in the $5 million Golden Slipper.
The 22-year-old faced a challenge on Great House surrounded by a barrier of rivals midway through the straight, yet staying composed, he navigated a route ahead to drive the colt clear for a commanding win.
Marking the initial Victorian-prepared victor since Crystal Lily back in 2010, Great House ($11) prevailed by 1-1/2 lengths ahead of Blue Diamond Stakes winner Streisand ($7.50), while Canberra’s young hopeful Music Time ($1) fought bravely for third, a further half-length back.
Lloyd mentioned that upon settling behind none other than McDonald’s ride Fireball during the trip, he sensed he occupied the ideal position.
“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.”
Lloyd experienced his debut Golden Slipper mount the previous year, ending unplaced aboard King Of Pop, and found himself “speechless” to claim triumph on merely his second outing in the globe’s wealthiest two-year-old contest.
Crowned Sydney’s leading apprentice in 2022-23 and repeating in 2023-24, Lloyd acknowledged his family’s role in shaping his path, especially his father, ex-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.”
Great House delivered his trainers their inaugural Slipper success after accepting lesser awards in both the colts and geldings Blue Diamond Prelude and the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
Price had notched prior placings in the Slipper on two occasions solo, first via Samaready in 2012 followed by Flying Artie in 2016, with Kent Jnr expressing delight for his associate to at last conquer the race.
“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.”
Ben Melham commended Streisand’s determined bid for second as “super gallant”, and Music Time’s rider Pierre Boudvillain voiced similar satisfaction with his charge’s performance.
“Very proud of the horse the whole country team,” Boudvillain said.
Chayan opened as the $5.50 market elect and ended eighth, with rider Craig Williams noting she had reached the conclusion of her campaign.
“She didn’t run up to her form, unfortunately,” Williams said.
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