By Craig Kerry
With his Golden Slipper ride locked in, Zac Lloyd will turn his focus on Saturday to helping two more make their way to the $5 million race.
Lloyd has been booked to ride Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr-trained Guest House for the March 21 showpiece for two-year-olds at Rosehill. The Home Affairs colt was a luckless third in the $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes last Saturday, but the prizemoney has punched his ticket for his next start, the Slipper.
Zac Lloyd rides Spicy Miss, left, in the Lonhro Plate.Credit: Getty Images
“Very thankful that they offered me the ride. He ran very well on the weekend,” Lloyd said of the $18 (TAB) Slipper chance.
“He looks like a two-year-old who’s very natural, he’s pacy, which is very good for the Slipper. They told me they’re going to make a couple of changes with him, just to try and fix his mannerisms. But he’s coming down to trial in a couple of weeks, so I’ll be able to get a nice sit on him.”
Lloyd has ridden Chris Waller-trained Hidrix, also an $18 chance for the Slipper, to victory in the Canonbury Stakes and to third in the Silver Slipper. The $1.7 million colt runs next in the Todman Stakes on Saturday week.
This Saturday, Lloyd is again aboard Ciaron Maher-trained Spicy Miss, which he has taken to second in the Golden Gift and Lonhro Plate. She has the prizemoney to make the Slipper, but the stable wants her to prove in the Sweet Embrace Stakes that she can be competitive.
“The draw [in 10] makes it a bit tricky, but a bit of rain around, the 1200 metres at Randwick’s a bit forgiving,” Lloyd said.
“She’s finally versing her own sex, which is obviously a big help. She tries very hard. She’s got nice ability. She’s had a bit of a break between the first and second run, so you expect nice improvement.”
In the Skyline Stakes, Lloyd sticks with Chris and Corey Munce-trained Star Of Jamaica, which he rode to fourth in the Inglis Millennium. The Profiteer colt needs to win to justify connections paying a $150,000 late entry fee for the Slipper.
“He gets the addition blinkers, which I think will really help him,” Lloyd said.
“He’s also very quick. Tough race. He’s going to have to improve, but he competed well in the Millennium.”
While Lloyd again partners Aeliana against star stablemate Autumn Glow in the Verry Elleegant Stakes, he has a new connection for the day’s other Group 1, the Surround Stakes. He rides Victorian raider Ole Dancer ($10), the Thousand Guineas winner, against star fillies Tempted ($1.60) and Apocalyptic ($4).
“It’s my first ride for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, so very happy to partner with them and especially on a filly like her,” Lloyd said.
“I think she’s got a good barrier, a good racing style. Tempted is going to be very, very hard to beat.”
Most Viewed in Sport
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
