Just hours after champion hoop James Mcdonald cemented his place in Australian racing history, young jockey Zac Lloyd announced himself as one of the sport’s brightest stars with a stunning winning ride in the $5 million Golden Slipper.
The 22-year-old had a job to do aboard Great House with a wall of horses ahead of him halfway up the straight, but keeping his cool, he picked a path through to spear the colt to the front for a dominant victory.
Becoming the first Victorian trained winner since Crystal Lily in 2010, Great House ($11) scored by 1-1/2 lengths over Blue Diamond Stakes winner Streisand ($7.50) with Canberra youngster Music Time ($1) a gallant third, another half-length away.
Lloyd said when he found himself following none other than McDonald’s mount Fireball in the run, he knew he was in the right spot.
“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 had his first Golden Slipper ride last year when he finished unplaced on King Of Pop and was “speechless” to emerge victorious at just his second appearance in the world’s richest two-year-old race.
Sydney’s champion apprentice in 2022-23 and again in 2023-24, Lloyd credited his family for their impact in guiding his career, particularly his father, former 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 also gave his trainers their first Slipper after having to settle for the minor prizes in both the colts and geldings Blue Diamond Prelude and the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
Price had previously placed in the Slipper twice when training on his own, firstly with Samaready in 2012 and then Flying Artie in 2016, and Kent Jnr said he was most thrilled for his business partner to finally break his duck.
“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 was proud of Streisand’s effort to fight on for second, describing it as “super gallant”, while Music Time’s jockey Pierre Boudvillain was equally rapt with the run of his mount.
“Very proud of the horse the whole country team,” Boudvillain said.
Chayan started a $5.50 favourite and finished eighth, jockey Craig Williams saying she had come to the end of her preparation.
“She didn’t run up to her form, unfortunately,” Williams said.
