Zac Lloyd pilots five winners but cops careless riding ban at Rosehill Gardens

Star jockey Zac Lloyd had a career-best haul at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday but will now miss a crucial Group 1 meeting next weekend.

Zac Lloyd copped a five-meeting ban for his ride on Step Aside. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images.

Zac Lloyd’s career best day was soured after he was slapped with a careless riding ban that will force him to miss next Saturday’s Group 1 meeting at Royal Randwick.

Lloyd booted home five winners for the first time in his career with wins on Rush Attack, Exit Fee, Step Aside, Broadsiding and Time To Boogie.

But the two-time Sydney champion apprentice found himself in strife for his winning ride on Step Aside in the third event on the program.

✋ Step aside folks, it's the @ZacLloydx show at Rosehill today!

Step Aside wins and the first 3 races belong to Zac!@cwallerracing | @OTIRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/cGX6Pk7L2x

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 22, 2025

He drew the ire of stewards when he pushed away from the fence on the Chris Waller-trained galloper in the straight, forcing Baroque Road to shift out.

As a result, Cadetship lost his rightful running and was hampered.

Lloyd pleaded not guilty to the charge but stewards found he had a charge to answer and suspended the young hoop for five meetings.

The suspension rules out Lloyd from consideration to pilot hot favourite Lady Shenandoah in the Group 1 Surround Stakes.

Lloyd will begin his suspension this Wednesday and will be free to ride the following Wednesday at Warwick Farm.

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A post-race miscommunication between strapper and jockey forced stewards to investigate if star filly Bel Merci had bled during her disappointing run in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes.

Bel Merci, a brilliant winner of the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes last spring, failed to fire in her return and only beat a runner home, finishing six lengths off the winner.

When she returned to the mounting yard the daughter of Extreme Choice was examined by strapper Izzy Neale, who discussed the potential of a bleed with jockey Zac Lloyd.

That conversation was misinterpreted and relayed to stewards by Lloyd before an investigation began.

There's a new TAB Golden Slipper player on the block! 🙌

Beiwacht wins the G2 TAB Silver Slipper Stakes in fine style! @JamesCummings88 | @godolphin | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/h37fgftk9S

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 22, 2025

Lloyd thought Neale had said Bel Merci had suffered a bleed however the strapper told Stewards she was only examining the filly and found no evidence she had.

Racing NSW vets checked Bel Merci post-race ruled out that the filly had suffered a bleeding attack in the race.

A post-race endoscopic examination performed on Bel Merci had revealed a degree of mucus in the filly’s trachea, for which it will be treated.

Trainer John Thompson confirmed Bel Merci will undergo further tests before he decides the next step with his Golden Slipper hopeful.

Originally published as Zac Lloyd pilots five winners but cops careless riding ban at Rosehill Gardens