Zac Lloyd’s early call proves the difference as Stroke Of Luck scores a record-breaking win in The Beauford.

A split second decisions by star apprentice Zac Lloyd proved the key to victory aboard Stroke Of Luck in The Beauford at Newcastle.

Zac Lloyd and Stroke Of Luck (left) score a record breaking win in the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images

Zac Lloyd’s Judgement call to roll the dice helped the star apprentice hit the jackpot when Stroke Of Luck showed superior staying qualities to score in track record time at Newcastle on Saturday.

Lloyd was dealt a testing wide draw but delivered a perfectly measured steer when making the decision not to go back on the John O’Shea-trained galloper in the $300,000 The Beauford (2300m).

Sydney’s champion apprentice had Stroke Of Luck perfectly poised to strike in a midfield position before pouncing on his rivals at the top of the straight.

Stroke Of Luck ($7.50) held off the late challenge of 2021 Beauford winner Torrens ($12) to salute by half a length in 2:21.16 seconds, more than a second faster than the previous track record set by Military Mission in the 2023 Newcastle Cup.

“I was in two minds there, if I wanted to go right back and get him to switch off or roll the dice as I did,” Lloyd said.

The Beauford goes the way of Stoke Of Luck! A great ride by @ZacLloydx for @JohnOSheaRacing 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jiJeixrlxX

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2023

“Luckily it panned out. Very lucky. He relaxed nicely.

“He kind of hit the front a bit soon, I didn’t expect him to burst as well as he did at the 400m and was toughing it out the last 300m all on his own so it was really good.”

The race changed shape down the back straight when former UK galloper Canberra Legend made a mid-race move to take up the lead.

Lloyd remained patient before unleashing Stroke Of Luck as the field rounded the turn while toughing it out to the late.

The Paul Perry-trained Sky Lab ($4.40) was third.

Stroke Of Luck has barely put a foot wrong this preparation and richly deserved his biggest win to date.

A placegetter in the Group 1 Queensland Derby in the winter, he won at Randwick two starts ago before finishing a narrow runner up in the Rosehill Gold Cup.

“Every run this preparation has been excellent,” O’Shea’s stable representative Tom Charlton said.

“Last time was quite a muddling race, there were a few hard luck stories and he was probably one of them.

“Just from the gate today we were probably a bit pessimistic about where we would get to.

“Zac (Lloyd) was confident we’d get a spot and in fairness to him he pulled it off.”

A stakes assignment could be on the radar next for Stroke Of Luck with options in Sydney and Melbourne.

Zac Lloyd produced a masterful ride aboard Stroke Of Luck in The Beauford. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s just a really tough stayer and hopefully he can develop into one of those horses you see in those nice handicap features,” Charlton said.

“There’s options like the Christmas Cup, I think it’s called.

“Also perhaps the Zipping Classic maybe down south, there’s a couple of options.

“Whether a tough run like that you put him away, you just let the dust settle and we’ll see how he is.

Earlier, the John Sargent-trained Toesonthenose broke through for a hard earned success in the Karaka 2024 Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m).

The son of Ocean Park has been racing consistently this preparation before finally putting it all together for a dominant win.

Jockey Nash Rawiller waited patiently in the back half the field before launching his attack into the straight.

Toesonthenose ($3.90) stormed clear for two length win from the Anthony Cummings-trained Stray ($18) while Tracey Bartley’s Irish Kisses ($11) was a head away in third.

“He has been knocking the door for a while to do that,”

“He has come out of a good race last time and today he got perfect run to show his turn of foot and his acceleration which he did.

“Look he is a fit racehorse and could probably have a go at something over a little bit further now before he goes out.”

Race favourite Resistible was gone before they had even rounded the bend and was eventually eased out of the race by apprentice Dylan Gibbons.