By Craig Kerry
Zac Lloyd knows better than most what Broadsiding’s rivals are up against in the group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on Saturday, but the jockey is confident Linebacker can launch a stronger challenge this time around.
Lloyd was aboard Godolphin star Broadsiding when he cruised to a one-length win in the group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) two weeks ago at Rosehill. It was one of five winners for Lloyd on a career-best day, which also featured a suspension from his victory on Step Aside.
Zac Lloyd takes Broadsiding to victory in the Hobartville Stakes.Credit: Getty Images
He returned on Wednesday at Warwick Farm with a winning finish to the day on Art Volant, and he has a strong book of rides on Saturday.
James McDonald, who was riding overseas two weeks ago, returns to take over on Broadsiding, which was a $1.60 Sportsbet favourite for the Guineas after his impressive first-up win and draw in gate four.
John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Linebacker, a front-running second when first-up in the Eskimo Prince (1200m) then sixth in the Hobartville, was $9.50 from gate six. Lloyd gets his first chance on Linebacker, and he was “very happy” with the ride.
“I was a fill-in for James on Broadsiding, and he’s the one to beat, a three-time group 1-winning colt, but I think Linebacker is ready to run a big race third-up,” Lloyd said.
“Last start he obviously got a long way back, but he had been over-racing, so it might just help him going forward. I presume we’ll be in a more prominent position.”
In the day’s other group 1, the Canterbury Stakes (1300m), Lloyd pilots a more familiar horse, Stefi Magnetica. The Bjorn Baker-trained mare, which gave Lloyd his first group 1 victory last year in the Stradbroke, resumes off two trials and was an $8 hope from gate seven.
“I love riding her and she’s back going really, really well,” said Lloyd, who was aboard in both trials.
“It’s probably one of the stronger Canterbury Stakes there’s been, and she’s obviously first-up in a group 1, which is never easy. But she’ll run really well and Bjorn’s stable is flying.
“I’d say we’ll probably be negative to neutral out of the gates, just find a midfield [or] worse than midfield spot, let her relax and find the line.”
Lloyd was also excited by the chance on Clear Thinking in the Wenona Girl Quality. He got his wish on Thursday when trainer Paul Messara said Clear Thinking would run at Randwick and not in the Country Championships qualifier at Tamworth on Sunday.
“She’s very good,” Lloyd said of the $4.80 chance. “She’s a group level filly that deserves that status.”
In the Randwick City Stakes (2000m), Lloyd will have to overcome a draw in 15 with Chris Waller-trained Kinesiology ($9).
“It caught my eye with both of its runs this time in, so I would have been very, very confident had he drawn well,” he said. “I’m not quite sure where I’ll end up, but I think I’m on the best horse in the race.”
Lloyd also has three chances for former boss, James Cummings. Zeitung ($4.50) is in the Fireball, Aleppo Pine ($20) is in the Todman and Kallos ($10) is in the Challenge Stakes. Aleppo Pine, though, like many on Saturday, could instead race on Canberra’s Black Opal card on Sunday.
“Zeitung is a good filly, I’ve had lot to do with her,” he said. “I won on her at Kembla in her third start. Yoshinobu will be hard to beat there, but she’s a good filly.”
He also has the job on Ciaron Maher-trained Aspiration Quality favourite It’s A Knockout.
