Stefi Magnetica delivers apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd his first group 1 triumph in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap
Apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd landing his first Group 1 triumph was the headline moment out Stefi Magnetica’s Stradbroke Handicap triumph at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
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Australian racing’s young gun jockey had his crowning moment as Zac Lloyd delivered on years of promise and a pedigree to match in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The son of a Queensland master arrived on the state’s biggest stage to pull off a Stradbroke masterpiece aboard lightweight filly Stefi Magnetica for trainer Bjorn Baker in an emotion-charged edition of the $3m contest.
Riding legend Jeff Lloyd has achieved most things in racing, but declared his son’s monumental achievement the best thing he has ever experienced on a racetrack, as he begins his Group 1 journey.
An emotional Zac Lloyd confessed his emotions spilt over as soon as he saw his parents post race, as the enormity of his first Group 1 bubbled over.
The filly Stefi Magnetica wins an epic G1 Stradbroke - and it’s @ZacLloydx with his first Group 1 winner! 🙌@BrisRacingClub@BBakerRacingpic.twitter.com/eQl5rMReHB
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2024
“It is really good just to get that Group 1 on my resume,” Lloyd said.
“I’ve had some great opportunities in the past year or so and I haven’t been able to capitalise. To get the job done today in a very big race, it is very special.
“I was very confident pre-race. She galloped enormous on Tuesday. My dad and I went through the race thoroughly and we honestly thought we were on the right horse.
“The first furlong or two went perfect. She was in a good rhythm, she wasn’t over-racing.”
After cutting the corner, it was a battle between the top and bottom weights as Lloyd found himself fending off an almighty challenge from Bella Nipotina, which ran out of her skin in second.
“Just as a couple of horses started dropping back in our face I had to make a decision to go around with the pack but I ultimately thought there’d be too much traffic so I thought I was travelling so well I was happy to go inside of them,” Lloyd said.
“She was tough. I saw Bella Nipotina and I thought that was one horse you don’t want to be in a finish with, but she was great.”
After declaring he would watch the race from the comfort of his own home, Jeff Lloyd was glad he came to Eagle Farm as his son became the star of the show.
“It is the most exciting thing I have ever witnessed, my Group 1’s mean nothing to that,” he said.
“I wasn’t going to come because I didn’t want to sit around all day, then his other ride got scratched so I thought we’d come for the one race.
“He phoned me two weeks ago and said ‘try and get me on that horse’, so when they confirmed it after she last run, we were both thrilled.
“It is a big achievement to step up and do what he has done in two seasons, it is quite remarkable.”
Baker was not on course as he is overseas for the wedding between jockey, Rachel King, and Baker’s stable manager, Luke Hilton.
Stefi Magentica became the first three-year-old filly to win the Stradbroke in 21 years, in a fitting performance with Private Steer’s jockey Glen Boss in attendance to see Lloyd at his brilliant best.
She also follows in her mother’s footsteps, with Mid Summer Music winning the race in 2012.
Leading Queensland hope Antino never played a role after missing the kick badly and having to be urged along for much of the trip.
While Vilana surged into contention late in the race, when it became obvious he was a spent force, even Godolphin trainer James Cummings found himself cheering for his apprentice Lloyd.
Originally published as Stefi Magnetica delivers apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd his first group 1 triumph in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap
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