Champion jockey James McDonald had barely solidified his Australian racing stature when 22-year-old Zac Lloyd vaulted into prominence with a spectacular steer to win the $5 million Golden Slipper aboard Great House.
Faced with a wall of opponents midway down the straight, Lloyd aboard the colt stayed calm, finding daylight to surge past for a decisive victory.
The result brought the first Victorian-trained success in the race since Crystal Lily in 2010, Great House ($11) holding on by 1-1/2 lengths from Streisand ($7.50), Blue Diamond Stakes winner, with Music Time ($1) from Canberra grabbing third half a length away in gritty style.
Lloyd noted following McDonald’s Fireball put him in contention.
“I got on the back of the best jockey in the world, and I thought, here we go,” Lloyd said.
“I was just waiting for a run but geez, he let down so well. I’m so pleased for the big ownership group, and for (trainers) Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, and Ben Elam who works here in Sydney.”
His prior Golden Slipper effort last year saw King Of Pop unplaced, so victory at his next try left him “speechless” in the top two-year-old prize purse.
Sydney apprentice champion 2022-23 and 2023-24, Lloyd credited parents and brother Jaden, spotlighting dad Jeff Lloyd’s jockey background.
“My dad is probably balling his eyes out. He is quite an emotional man,” Lloyd said.
“But I wouldn’t be half the rider I am without him, and I wouldn’t be a quarter of the person I am without my mum and my dad. And to my brother (fellow jockey) Jaden, he’s going to be the happiest person on planet earth.”
Price and Kent Jnr notched their first Slipper, upgrading from placings in colts/geldings Blue Diamond Prelude and Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
Kent Jnr celebrated Price’s history-making moment after personal Slipper placings with Samaready (2012), Flying Artie (2016).
“It’s so right for Mick. I’m so lucky I work with Mick. He’s had so many close calls in this race. He’s a great two-year-old trainer,” Kent Jnr said.
“And what a horse. He won by a big margin, going away, so fantastic.”
Ben Melham praised Streisand’s “super gallant” second, as did Boudvillain for Music Time.
“Very proud of the horse the whole country team,” Boudvillain said.
Chayan, $5.50 pick, placed eighth per Craig Williams, her prep concluded.
“She didn’t run up to her form, unfortunately,” Williams said.
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