In a standout Sydney autumn carnival performance, jockey Zac Lloyd notched four wins at Rosehill, starring a Group 1 victory on Kiwi filly Belle Cheval during the Vinery Stud Stakes.
One week removed from steering Guest House to the $5 million Golden Slipper – part of three weekend wins – Lloyd underlined his ability further.
His sequence started aboard Annie’s Rose in the Midway Handicap (1300m), continuing with Belle Cheval in the Vinery (2000m), Idle Flyer in the Emancipation Stakes (1500m), and Welwal in the Doncaster Prelude (1500m).
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, trainers of Guest House too, saw Welwal rise to the occasion with blinkers and on a rain-affected circuit, ending his drought since November 2024.
“He was fantastic, that horse. Geez, he let rip and he’s won that convincingly,” Lloyd said.
“The blinkers have done good work, and he was just there ready to go.”
The Doncaster Prelude provides a ballot-free path to the Doncaster Mile (1600m) next Saturday, but not for Welwal who is un-nominated and barred from late entry by weights.
Trainer Price beamed with joy at the outcome, a deserved result after persistent bad luck.
“Trainers always say, my horse had no luck after the race, but it is true,” Price said.
“He needs a bit of room around him and a soft track, and this distance, and he’s a nice horse.
(Owner) Alf Gauci has been a client of ours for thirty years and hopefully he’s having a few tears right now, because he does wear his heart on his sleeve.”
Welwal, sent out at $11, produced a swift finish to prevail by 1-1/2 lengths over Feroce ($12), with Lord Penman ($15) grabbing third, three-quarters adrift.
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