Episode 517: Zac Lloyd

Zac Lloyd’s day of days at Rosehill on February 22nd was soured by a five meeting suspension incurred on the third of his five winners on the programme. This remarkable quintet came just nine months after his previous best, a four win haul at Randwick. The Zac Lloyd story is well documented. He’s the son of former champion jockey Jeff Lloyd who today acts as his son’s manager and adviser. Zac’s career began modestly with a win at Dalby in 2020. Just over four years later the 21 year old is sitting on 385 winners, two apprentice’s titles and a couple of Gr 1’s. Young Zac begins by looking back on his bittersweet day at Rosehill recently. He talks of his first ever race ride on the exciting three year old Broadsiding. The young jockey fully realises he won’t be riding the colt on a regular basis. Zac talks of brother Jaden who rode a Gold Coast winner on the same day. He talks about a glut of suspensions he’s had since relocating to Sydney, and emphasises his resolve to keep out of trouble. He says he was just four years old when his dad Jeff Lloyd decided to try his luck in Australia. He was just beginning to realise that his father was a very famous jockey. Zac clearly remembers another move when his father landed a Hong Kong contract. The young jockey looks back on the family’s relocation back to Australia and the decision to settle on the Gold Coast. He’s delighted to have Jeff Lloyd as his official manager. His father watches every move he makes in races. Zac says he regularly communicates with his mother Nicola, herself a member of a successful South African racing family. He talks about his initial apprenticeship to the Edmonds stable on the Gold Coast. His father was still riding trackwork at the time. The twenty one year old won’t forget his first day at the races in November 2020. He got his first taste of the highs and lows of racing. Zac looks back on a brief transfer of his indentures to a Brisbane stable. He confirms that Darren Beadman played a role in his  apprenticeship to the Godolphin racing machine in Sydney. Zac talks about his first Sydney apprentice’s title and a ding dong battle with good mate Dylan Gibbons. He was grateful to win a second junior title, a feat achieved with no allowance. Zac highlights some of the best horses he’s ridden in the world famous royal blue silks of the Godolphin operation. The young jockey’s capability to ride at a featherweight earned him the Stradbroke ride on Stefi Magnetica last year. He looks back on the dream run that carried him to victory, and to his first Gr 1 success. Zac looks back on his first Sydney Gr 1- the Flight Stakes on star filly Lady Shenandoah.  He talks about his current trackwork routine. Zac talks of his close friendship with fellow jockey and first cousin Chad Schofield. He talks about the luxury provided by his ability to ride so light, and the contrast of styles between himself and father Jeff. Zac looks at future aspirations and his appreciation of being a part of the vibrant Australian racing industry.