James Cummings’ Stradbroke Handicap call: ‘He has great bravery in his races’

James Cummings says if Stradbroke Handicap favourite Vilana isn’t in contention in the final stages, his gaze will switch to a rival runner ridden by a young jockey who he says rides with great bravery.

If Stradbroke Handicap favourite Vilana doesn’t look like being in the finish of the $3m race, James Cummings’ attention will turn to a “rival” jockey who he says rides with “great bravery.”

Apprentice Zac Lloyd will be a “rival” in the Group 1 Stradbroke, in the sense that Cummings and the Godolphin Blue Army are striving to win the Stradbroke with Vilana while 20-year-old Lloyd will be aboard Bjorn Baker’s three-year-old filly Stefi Magnetica.

But in reality, Lloyd is a big part of the Blue Army family as their apprentice jockey.

Cummings is a huge fan of Lloyd and he says he is one of the most talented, daring and hardworking young jockeys he has seen.

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“He mixes his tremendous work ethic with great bravery in his races,” Cummings says, of Lloyd.

“Zac has no fear of going where others might fear to go in races. And he has been rewarded in doing that with a couple of big wins, switching back to the inside or looking for a different path in his races.

“I certainly cheer for Zac if we have got a runner in the race and we look like we are out of it. If I don’t have a runner in a race and he has got a ride, it’s nice to see him win.

“He is part of our team so it’s always worth a cheer from those of us who are part of that team.”

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Champion Sydney apprentice Lloyd has all the tools to be a successful jockey — mentors such as the likes of Cummings and Godolphin assistant trainer Darren Beadman, the legendary jockey, as well as Lloyd’s Dad Jeff, the star former jockey.

Zac Lloyd and legendary jockey Darren Beadman. Picture: Getty Images.

But young Lloyd knows his first Group 1 win – which he hopes is aboard Stefi Magnetica in Saturday’s Stradbroke – would elevate his career to a new level.

Regardless of whether Lloyd joins the Group 1 club on Saturday, Cummings said he has the right attitude and the smarts to make it as a successful senior jockey when his apprenticeship sends later this year.

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While Lloyd has good people around him, Cummings says it can be harder than you would think for some young sportspeople to lean on those around them for advice.

“It’s really smart to surround yourself with the people who know things and the people who have been there before and who can provide you with good advice,” Cummings said.

“But don’t underestimate how easy it would be for a young person like Zac to ignore that advice and to turn his back on that and to think that he knows better.

“History is paved with young people who have done that. But Zac takes it all in. It takes a wise head on young shoulders for Zac to listen and mull over it and turn it into the success that he has been able to have.

“There wouldn’t be an apprentice jockey out there working harder than Zac.

“There are no safety nets in horse racing, none of us have got a safety net, and that’s a good thing because it’s the way the world works.

“It’s not always smooth sailing, but Zac has been able to make it look pretty easy from the outside looking in.”

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Apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd is striving for his first Group 1 – and Stradbroke Handicap contender Stefi Magnetica can be the horse to do it. Picture: Michael McInally/Racing Queensland.

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Vilana, having his third crack at the Stradbroke, is the $5.50 favourite after a spectacular win in the Moreton Cup last Saturday.

The Godolphin galloper will be ridden by Tim Clark in the Stradbroke.

Lloyd’s mount Stefi Magnetica, who will carry just 50kg, is a $12 chance.

Stefi Magnetica is trying to emulate the likes of Private Steer and La Montagna who have won the Stradbroke as three-year-old fillies.

Originally published as James Cummings’ Stradbroke Handicap call: ‘He has great bravery in his races’