Zac Lloyd flirted with the idea of extending his apprenticeship to chase a third title but will join the senior ranks near the end of the year

A chat with former champion jockey Darren Beadman had Zac Lloyd considering extending his apprenticeship to chase a third title but Lloyd will join the senior ranks at the end of the year.

Zac Lloyd’s amazing rise through the Sydney ranks has one of the sport’s greatest ever riders wondering recently if he could complete a 44-year first.

Lloyd, 20, was on the cusp of sealing his second Sydney apprentice title when a conversation with mentor and Godolphin assistant trainer Darren Beadman turned to his riding future.

“Darren put the thought in my mind a couple of weeks ago about the potential of extending my apprenticeship by month or two from the end of November and give the title another shake,” Lloyd revealed.

“Obviously I’d only be an apprentice for half the season but he felt I could ride a sufficient amount of winners to win the apprentice title again.”

Not since Melbourne Cup winning rider Wayne Harris between 1978 and 1981 has an apprentice claimed a hat-trick of Sydney apprentice titles.

Zac Lloyd (left) edged out Dylan Gibbons to win his first apprenticeship title in 2023.

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Malcolm Johnston (1974 to 77) also completed the feat while Jack Thompson won four straight from 1939-43.

Lloyd’s own apprenticeship comes to an end at the end of November.

“After having a talk with Godolphin, James (Cummings) and my dad (Jeff), we felt there was no need to extend,” Lloyd said.

“We thought we would rather get out and start riding as a senior.”

In fairness, Lloyd, who will have four months to build a margin at the top of the apprentice ranks, has been virtually riding as a senior rider for the past 12 months.

The emerging superstar rode without a claim throughout the 2023/24 campaign and had no issues putting together a career best season.

While his 60.5 win Sydney metro tally is down from 76 winners a year before, Lloyd has exceeded his previous season by most of the key metrics.

His 110.5 winners across the campaign is a new best.

A maiden Group 1 aboard Stefi Magnetica in the Stradbroke Handicap in June was the clear highlight of an impressive 13 stakes victories.

“It has gone really well especially riding the whole season without a claim,” Lloyd said.

“I didn’t really have a set goal despite winning a Group 1 but my dad (Jeff) who is obviously my manager said if I could ride 50 metro winners, that would be good.

The filly Stefi Magnetica wins an epic G1 Stradbroke - and it’s @ZacLloydx with his first Group 1 winner! 🙌@[e-mail]/eQl5rMReHB

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2024

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“So I’ve exceed that and hopefully I can build on that into next season.”

Lloyd cites having the support of some of the best in the business as a crucial part to his success.

“Having the support of Godolphin, James (Cummings) and Darren (Beadman) behind you, you are always going to ride winners,” he said.

“Even if you don’t know them well, they are of top quality so it definitely helps when you are going through a bad patch and you get on some of Godolphin’s horses and they win.

“It helps build confidence and I’ve been fortunate to have that.”

Lloyd is Godolphin’s first apprentice in close to a decade after making the move down from Queensland.

His first season in Sydney was marred by a spate of suspensions – 10 in total throughout 2022/23 – that stunted his momentum.

Even that aspect of his riding has improved, incurring eight suspensions last season with close to 200 more rides from the year before.

Lloyd says he feels like he’s continued improving mentally and physically as a rider.

“Mentally in a race I feel more confident than I was when I first got here,” he said.

“Races feel like they are happening a lot slower. Obviously when I first came here, I wanted to do well and get my name out there.

Stromboli proves too slick at his first run as a gelding!@ZacLloydx and the @HawkesRacing team share more success on the day after winning together in race 3. pic.twitter.com/eaPD0Z1ZPM

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 2, 2023

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“Now that I have laid a good foundations, the pressure isn’t as much so you can ride a lot calmer and definitely races are slowing down for me mentally.

“I am making more of the right decisions and not rushing into positions.

“You have to make those steps when you lose your claim and I feel I have.”

Lloyd will attempt to begin the new season with a bang when he returns from a brief suspension for six bookings at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Two of those come for some of his biggest supporters – Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes.

Talented sprinter Stromboli ($7.50) will make his return from a spell in the Jockeys Celebration Day Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m).

Lloyd has already piloted the son of Exceed And Excel to victory on two occasions.

“Stromboli is a lovely horse,” Lloyd said.

“He is going well and I have a good affiliation with him.

“He looks to have come back in good form and is a winning chance for sure.

“60kg is a bit of weight but he is a big horse and I am sure he will be able to carry it.”

Lloyd wouldn’t be surprised if the Hawkes-trained Riyazan ($41) can run a cheeky race in the NSW Jockeys Associations Reunion Open Handicap (1500m).

“I think the runs this preparation haven’t really shown his ability, he has been a bit unlucky in a couple of them,” he said.

“I was hoping I would draw a nice barrier because I would be fairly confident with him with that weight but the barrier makes it a bit tougher.”

Apprentice Ben Osmond ducks and weaves on Robusto and the @cwallerracing-trained gelding wins first-up 👊 pic.twitter.com/Z3scx5nF6A

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 20, 2024

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While Lloyd doesn’t have a ride for Godolphin, he will pilot two of the racing and breeding powerhouse’s former horses this weekend.

Gravina ($9.50) is now with Matthew Dale and contests the Congratulations Chris Waller Benchmark 94 Handicap (1300m).

The Nathan Doyle-trained Silvanito will attempt to end a run of near misses in the TAB Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).

“It was a good run last start by Gravina,” Lloyd said.

“He carried 60kg last start so he drops a fair bit and the barrier isn’t ideal.

“The horse is going well and should run well.

“Silvanito is a nice horse and been knocking on the door recently. He was a bit unlucky not to win the other week when he was taken on a fair way out.

“He’s a good chance but the barrier is a bit of a dampener.”

Lloyd also has bookings on Cool Storm (Highway Handicap) and Tenderize (Midway Handicap), the latter of which is an emergency in the second event.

He’s is hungry to begin the new season with a flurry on the eve of the spring carnival and admits he will have some added motivation.

“I have a little side quest with Tommy Berry on who can ride more winners next season and if I can beat him I am sure I will be doing well on the premiership,” Lloyd said.

Originally published as Zac Lloyd flirted with the idea of extending his apprenticeship to chase a third title but will join the senior ranks near the end of the year