While Anamoe has been the equine star of a great season for Godolphin’s Australian arm, apprentice Zac Lloyd could be at the centre of managing director Vin Cox’s report to Dubai next week.
Lloyd joined Godolphin in September last year and quickly made his mark. He was fast-tracked into the city and has made the most of the opportunities, albeit with a few bumps along the way.
Zac Lloyd drives home one of his 29 winners for Godolphin this season.Credit: Getty
Suspensions have limited the19-year-old Lloyd to 55 city meetings, but he has ridden 75 winners in Sydney to be second on the jockeys premiership to James McDonald heading into the final day.
He is three clear in the race for the apprentices crown from Dylan Gibbons with 10 races remaining at Randwick on Saturday.
“They are aware over there [in Dubai] that we have a very good apprentice, and it will be my pleasure to tell them that Zac is champion apprentice should Saturday go to plan,” Cox said.
“It has really been a stellar year for Godolphin, and Zac has been one of the real highlights.
“It’s a credit to him that we have been talking about the apprentice title in meetings for the past six weeks and trying to support where we could.
“We didn’t have many rides for him, but we had a couple of nice two-year-olds that won on Wednesday and Shaken at Randwick on Saturday.”
Lloyd has ridden more winners than any other jockey in the Godolphin blue this season in Australia with 29 and will be trusted with their only city runner on Saturday. Shaken is the $3.70 second pick in betting in the first race behind $2.80 favourite Estrielle, which Gibbons will ride, so a win would be worth two in the title race.
“We took the view that having an apprentice we needed to support him, and Zac made that easy,” Cox said. “We were going to use him away from the city to start with, but he showed us he was ready to step up.”
From his first winner for Godolphin at a metropolitan track – Arbitration at Rosehill on September 28 – his talent was obvious.
“That might be one of his best rides for us,” former champion jockey and Godolphin assistant trainer Darren Beadman said.
“You could see his natural ability and how he gets on with a horse in that win, and it showed he was ready for the metropolitan arena and gave more confidence in him.
“He needed a full season to win the title, and I’m glad we gave him that chance.
“He has certainly improved with his patience in races, and the most important thing is that he listens.”
The development of Lloyd has Cox, Beadman and trainer James Cummings excited for next season as the teenager matures.
“He has learnt some lessons since he arrived,” Cox said. “A lot of the credit has to go to Dizzy Appleby, Darren and Kent Wade, who managed the barn where Zac works and does his share of boxes. He has grown up this year as well as riding plenty of winners.”
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