Zac Lloyd has an unbeaten record on Insurrection and if he can maintain it at Randwick, it just might seal him the Sydney apprentices’ premiership.
Lloyd heads into the final city meeting of the 2022-23 term with a three-win lead over his close mate and arch-rival Dylan Gibbons, the pair both having had an incredible season with over 70 metropolitan victories apiece.
Indentured to Godolphin, Lloyd has a full book of 10 rides on Saturday while Gibbons’ haul has been reduced to eight by an early scratching, although both will be aboard several horses toward the top of markets.
As a $2.25 favourite, Insurrection is the shortest-priced of Lloyd’s mounts and if he can guide the in-form sprinter to a hat-trick of wins in the Kanebridge Handicap (1100m), the Michael Freedman-trained sprinter could be the horse to deliver him the coveted apprentices’ title.
“It would be nice to be part of that for him if that was to unfold,” Freedman said.
“When we picked this race out a couple of weeks back, I wanted to keep him on with the claim.
“He’s got a good association with the horse and he has ridden him well.”
Insurrection will be Freedman’s only runner and has been a stalwart for the stable this winter, finishing a narrow second to the in-form Omni Man on resumption before stringing together successive Saturday-grade wins over the Randwick 1100m-circuit.
His form comes despite the fact he has drawn wide barriers in all three runs, as he has again this weekend.
“It’s amazing, he hasn’t had a decent barrier for quite a while,” Freedman said.
“He’s got nice tactical speed from the gates and Saturday probably won’t be anything different, it will just be a matter of how he can begin and get across and find a nice spot.”
The battle between Gibbons and Lloyd for the junior riders’ title has been a highlight of Sydney racing this winter.
Along with reigning champion Tyler Schiller and the emerging Reece Jones, the apprentice ranks have rarely been stronger, nor more hotly contested, with this the first time two apprentices have ridden over 50 winners each in the same season.
