Zac Lloyd produces perfect ride to upset race favourite Mayfair with impressive first starter Brave One

The Hawkes training partnership looks to have unearthed a talented youngster in Brave One following his stylish debut win at Randwick.

Zac Lloyd and Brave One race to an impressive win at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Trainer Michael Hawkes had every right to sing the praises of emerging stallion Exceedance and his two-year-old son, Brave One, after the latter’s impressive debut win at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Brave One settled outside the leader, heavily backed favourite, Mayfair, then got that better of his rival to a strong win in the Petaluma Handicap (1100m).

Racing in the colours of owner Rupert Legh of Chautauqua fame, Brave One demonstrated plenty of natural ability to get his race career off to a flying start.

“This day and age everyone wants two-year-old runners and Golden Slipper horses,’’ Hawkes said.

“We paid a lot for this colt but he was immature so we didn’t push him early.

Brave One races on the speed, travels well under @ZacLloydx, and the son of Exceedance handles the wet track to win on debut for @HawkesRacing 🏇@racing_nsw | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/gRZFlDaPTE

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 6, 2024

“This is the middle of winter and that was a class field as Mayfair goes well and there was a couple of wet-trackers in the race.

“Ultimately, we wanted to win a two-year-old race knowing we had missed all the good races this season.

“We had him (last) Thursday at Kembla but it was too wet a track so we didn’t even accept.

“So, today being the first race was perfect, he had trialled well in it (heavy ground), he got through it good – hopefully he is another star on the rise.’’

Brave One ($8) was ridden by star apprentice Zac Lloyd to score by nearly a length from Mayfair ($2.30 favourite) with Winning Proposal ($3.70) 1¼ lengths away third.

Lloyd said Brave One handled the heavy track conditions well and he was confident of getting the measure of Mayfair in the sprint to the finish.

“My bloke was doing it easily and Tim’s (Clark on Mayfair) didn’t look too comfortable,’’ Lloyd said.

“Obviously Tim had to work a bit to cross, but my guy was in a lovely rhythm throughout and he was strong late.

“On paper it looked a pretty strong two-year-old race, so he’s done really well to put them way at his first start.”

Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his brother, Wayne, and their Hall of Fame father, John, said Lloyd’s decision to keep the pressure on Mayfair early was decisive.

“That was an absolutely brilliant ride by Zac,’’ Hawkes said.

“He jumped, made use of his horse, let him slide and made the favourite work, work, work and kick forward.

“He travelled good our colt but he’s still green as, he has a lot of upside and is going to be very good. He’s a quality horse, this bloke.’’

Exceedance is a hell of a horse!

The battle with Bivouac made for an epic edition of the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/UJRognJ7Bm

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 18, 2019

Brave One was a $300,000 purchase at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year, Brave One is from the first crop of Vinery Stud sire, Exceedance, a former resident of the Hawkes stable.

Exceedance won three of his nine starts including the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes defeating Bivouac and Libertini.

The promising two-year-old certainly boasts a stallion’s pedigree on his dam side, too.

His mother is Runway Star, a daughter of the ill-fated Northern Meteor, who won three stakes races including the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes, while his great grandam was Group 1 winner Wrap Around.

Brave One is the second winner by Exceedance prepared by Team Hawkes this winter after the Rosehill success of Swiftfalcon last month.

“I can’t get enough of Exceedance,’’ Hawkes said.

“I’ve been in love with his progeny since we bought them and got them into the stable. We have 12 two-year-olds by the sire.

“I spoke with Peter Orton (Vinery Stud) yesterday and said go find me some more.’’

Adrian Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, said Mayfair might not have appreciated the Heavy 9 track conditions.

“Mayfair will improve off that run,’’ Bott said.

“I’m not sure if the heavy track was to his liking but he’s done a good job at his first start, he stuck on well.’’

Originally published as Zac Lloyd produces perfect ride to upset race favourite Mayfair with impressive first starter Brave One