The vitality of young gun Zac Lloyd will be a feature in Saturday’s big races at Rosehill: on the turf, he brings what Reece Walsh exudes for the Broncos and Errol Gulden possesses with his slick kicking for the Swans as the big games roll on in the footy.
Champion apprentice Lloyd, only 20, takes on seniors like the powerful Nash Rawiller, who produced a heartstopper on Able Willie at Randwick on Wednesday, and the understated Jason Collett, top class with hands like Nathan Cleary.
Zac Lloyd drives Tiz Invincible to the post in the Furious Stakes.Credit: Getty
Walsh can duck and weave from back in the field; Collett is cool under pressure from the rear. Gulden’s “stunning left foot” is matched by Rawiller, who works both (heels anyway) with aplomb.
Lloyd will possibly pick up most of the slack left by the injured James McDonald at Rosehill on Saturday, as he did when successfully replacing the leading jockey on Tiz Invincible at Royal Randwick last Saturday.
Lloyd was second in the Sydney jockeys premiership with 76 winners last year and is getting to the lofty heights of former champion apprentices Malcolm Johnston (107 winners in 1975-76) and Wayne Harris (89 in 1980-81).
Tony Cavallo will ride in the Highway at Rosehill on Saturday after a successful trip to Mendooran.Credit: Getty
Yes, others have become great later in their careers, but previous top juniors have burnt out by 21 after losing their allowance in times when they began riding younger and became seniors at 21 regardless of their ability and experience.
The current system works better for jockeys mentally and physically. Lloyd, though, is tuned to a fine pitch in both areas, which prompts the question of just how good he can become.
Greats like Darren Beadman and Ron Quinton improved with age. Quinton hails from Mendooran in western NSW, which held its once-a-year meeting last Saturday and where, in the dust, the soul of the turf abounds. Raw? Perhaps, because it’s a non-TAB meeting and caters for bottom-of-the-barrel horses, but it drew an enthusiastic attendance that included nine bookmakers.
Mendooran began racing in 1856 but is now in jeopardy. The outside running rail has to be replaced, which will test the physical and financial resources of the committee.
Racegoers enjoyed cuisine featuring a tastebud-tantalising sausage with onions between two slabs of unbuttered bread.
While the magnificent old-timers Nature Strip (nine years old) and Eduardo (10) were toiling for the last time at Royal Randwick, the eleven-year-old Northern Conqueror triumphed at Mendooran under Tony Cavallo (54). The win landed a well-executed plunge in a close finish that left leviathan fielder David Baxter looking like the victim of a crusher tackle.
Cavallo had notched his 1000th winner earlier in the week. Many figured Northern Conqueror hadn’t scored, but judge Neville Good – seasoned by 26,000 photo finishes, the first at Cobar in 1975 – found in favour of the Bob Howe-trained gelding at his 113th start. That’s 35 more starts than Nature Strip (44) and Eduardo (34) had between them. Cavallo will be at Rosehill today to ride Possibly So in the Highway.
Lloyd will handle Zapateo in the group 2 Sheraco Stakes. Zapateo, which has been rocketing in barrier trials, meets I Am Me under Adam Hyeronimus – a jockey rejuvenated by Gai Waterhouse – and Espiona with Rawiller flailing. Collett will apply his touch to Zougotcha, which was out of sync last start.
Down south, the spotlight is on the McEwan Stakes at Moonee Valley, where Australia’s most exciting horse, Giga Kick, has to apply his ability over a 1000 metres around the tight circuit.
Giga Kick can be sluggish at the start but has the cerebral Craig Williams in the hot seat, highlighting a weekend that promises bounds and bursts on many fields. But the turf has much to offer.
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