Zac Lloyd scores upset win on Godolphin gelding Tamerlane in Winter Stakes to bring up four winners at Randwick

Zac Lloyd rode four winners at a Sydney Saturday meeting for the first time, capping a big day with an upset win in the feature Winter Stakes at Randwick.

Zac Lloyd brings up four winners for the day with victory on Tamerlane in the Listed Winter Cup. Picture: Getty Images

Star apprentice Zac Lloyd completed a four-timer at a Sydney Saturday meeting for the first time with a stakes success for Godolphin on Tamerlane at Royal Randwick.

The James Cummings-trained Tamerlane capped a memorable day for Sydney’s champion apprentice when he wore down favourite Iknowastar in the Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes (1400m).

Lloyd’s quartet of wins came on Tamerlane, Shezanalister, Clear Thinking and Brave One.

“I’ve won four races twice at the midweeks and once at the provincials but this is the first time on a Saturday,” Lloyd said.

“I thought my horse in the Highway (Clear Thinking) was obviously my best ride.

“I spoke to my mum this morning as I normally do coming to the races and she said she would be happy with one but I said I want more. I think she will be happy with four winners.”

What a day for @zaclloydx! He brings up a four-timer with an outstanding ride aboard Tamerlane in the Listed Winter Stakes for @Godolphin 🔵🔵🔵 pic.twitter.com/CFcGe6AsoO

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 6, 2024

Lloyd capped his brilliant exhibition of riding when he drove Tamerlane ($21) to score by a neck form Iknowastar ($2.40 favourite) with a similar margin to King Of The Castle ($6).

Cummings points out that it was significant Lloyd’s four winners were for four different trainers.

“Zac’s got his eye in, it’s his fourth win for the day so congratulations to him,” Cummings said.

“His four winners were for different trainers and that is really important that he keeps getting that groundswell of support.

“We’re not the only stable or it’s not just us and one other stable identifying that he’s got the talent and the (work) ethic to make it work.

“He is getting a good spread of support and that makes a big difference. It’s the reason he is so far clear of the next best apprentice.”

Lloyd’s four wins takes him to 58.5 and back into the top five on the Sydney jockeys premiership while he has successfully defending his apprentices title – which is no mean feat given he has ridden the entire season without a claim.

“The title wasn’t my main goal at the start of the season but it was on my mind,” Lloyd said.

“It has been less stressful this year than last when I fighting against Dylan (Gibbons) for the premiership.

“I’ve had a comfortable lead for most of the season so I was focusing on the Group 1 races and building my connections with trainers.

“It’s good to get it done, not many people have won it twice.”

Lloyd, who turns 21 next month and is due to complete his apprenticeship in November, also achieved his Group 1 ambitions when he won his first major on Stefi Magnetica in the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm last month.

STEFI MAGNETICA WINS THE STRADBROKE HANDICAP!

ZAC LLOYD GETS HIS ELUSIVE GROUP 1! @ZacLloydx@[e-mail]/mWKqa0eGFV

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 15, 2024

The star apprentice was desperate to break through at the highest level and emulate his close friends, Gibbons and Tyler Schiller.

“It was a relief to get that Group 1 win,” Lloyd said.

“To see them (Dylan Gibbons and Tyler Schiller) winning Group 1 races you feel left out so it was good to win the Group 1.”

Tamerlane may not reach those heights but he is a talented sprinter who returned to form in the Winter Stakes.

Cummings admitted he had been disappointed with Tamerlane first-up in the Luskin Stakes at Scone but felt there were encouraging signs despite another unplaced effort in the Civic Stakes last start.

“It was a great effort from this horse who the team has worked hard on to get him back into good form this preparation,” Cummings said.

“Although his form hasn’t looked great on paper, we had strong feeling he was going a lot better than his two runs back suggested so far.

“I thought the run last week was the run he needed to really bring him on and we had a strong feeling that he was going to put in a big effort today.”

Cummings said he will consider giving Tamerlane his chance in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill in two weeks – the final stakes race of the 2023-24 season.

“The Winter Challenge is 1500 and it’s just at the limit for this horse but it’s certainly worthwhile considering,” Cummings said.

“He carried the weight boldly today and outmuscled an in-form horse there so all the credit has to go to him.”

Originally published as Zac Lloyd scores upset win on Godolphin gelding Tamerlane in Winter Stakes to bring up four winners at Randwick