Gun apprentice Zac Lloyd rode his second Saturday winning treble in a row but will miss the next month after getting his second suspension in a week at Randwick on Saturday.
Lloyd has quickly gained a reputation of being worth every bit of his two-kilogram claim and was seen at his best on King Of Spades ($7) for Danielle Sieb, Yoshino ($9) for his boss James Cummings, and Garrison ($12) for Kim Waugh.
Zac Lloyd completes a treble on Saturday aboard the Kim Waugh-trained Garrison.Credit:Getty
“I feel like I’m improving all the time riding against the best here in Sydney every week,” Lloyd said after Garrison win. “I’m learning all the time.”
But stewards again had to pull him into line for careless riding on Stromboli at the 600m mark later in the day. Lloyd pleaded guilty to the charge and had another five meetings added to the 12-meeting suspension from Sky Lab in the Summer Cup on Boxing Day. He won’t return to riding until February 3.
Chief steward Steve Railton said Lloyd’s error was in not correcting his mount quickly enough when it checked Liberty Sun at the 600m.
“You’re having quite a bit of success, but you need to be more careful,” Railton told the apprentice.
“You have a lot of good mentors around, including your father [Jeff], Darren Beadman and Corey Brown, so take this time to refocus and come back with a bit more caution because we don’t want to see you in here as much as we are.
“You are at a point where you are attracting a premium of 50 per cent on any suspension because of your poor record.”
Baker looks for more focus with Infatuation in Magic Millions
Bjorn Baker believes there is improvement left in Infatuation for the Magic Millions Classic in a fortnight and is also toying with the addition of some headgear on the Gold Coast after she scored her first win at Randwick on Saturday.
Infatuation ($4.40) confirmed her top prizemoney seeding for the Magic Millions by breaking her maiden with a tough effort to beat the Little Pumper ($4.20 fav) and chalk up a 100th win for Baker’s stable in NSW for 2022.
Winning jockey Rachel King believes there is more to come from Infatuation.Credit:Getty
“She’s still having a bit of a look but learning all the time,” jockey Rachel King said. “She still climbs a bit when she gallops, but she’s got a bit more there, so hopefully that happens in two weeks.”
Baker was delighted to get a win on the board with the Golden Gift runner-up and will toy with blinkers or winkers for the Magic Millions.
“I thought she was vulnerable today because there is definitely improvement left in her,” Baker said. “She has the ability to put herself on the speed, but we would like to get that extras focus for the Magic Millions.
“We just have to work out if it will help her, but we know we have a filly with a real chance.”
Infatuation firmed from $13 to $7 second favourite for the Magic Millions after her win, while Croatian Belle, which remained unbeaten at Moonee Valley, went from $21 into $15.
Sovereign Fund gives Snowdens top two Magic Millions hopes
Peter and Paul Snowden are set to have the two favourites for the Magic Millions Classic after Wyong Magic Millions winner Sovereign Fund won easily at Doomben on Saturday.
Sovereign Fund and Breeders Plate winner Empire of Japan will make up the Snowden charge at the Magic Millions for the Newgate stallions syndicate.
“We are there with these two horses, but it will mean nothing if we don’t win it,” Paul Snowden said.
“When you two get colts like these two, you plan to keep them apart, and we have been able to do that and get them both into the race with their best in front of them.
“Sovereign Fund has always been a bit raw but is very talented. I think Empire Of Japan deserves to be our top seed.”
Jamie Kah, who rode Sovereign Fund, will have the choice of riding Moonee Valley winner Croatian Belle, while James McDonald has the first refusal on Empire Of Japan.
“We will know our riders in the next couple of days,” Snowden said.
Fashion Legend earn MM Guineas shot
Fashion Legend will head to the Magic Millions Guineas after he defied an alarming betting drift for a tough win in the Vo Rogue Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
The son of Deep Field blew from $9 to start $18 in the betting for the group 3 race but sat on the speed and held off a late challenge from favourite Count Da Beans.
“He has earned a crack at the Guineas, and the Gold Coast track should suit his style,” co-trainer Richard Freedman said. “It is great to get that win for Bon Ho, and it’s a credit to Will, who found the horse and made him the pick of that sale.
“He is very tough and I think the 1400m in a couple of weeks will suit him.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
