Latest news with #ZacLloyd
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Don Diego De Vega wins drama-filled Grafton Cup
There was no shortage of drama in the 2025 renewal of Thursday's $200,000 Grafton Cup (2350m). Race favourite Bear On The Loose was scratched just before the field was set to jump while second favourite Quietness ran off the track in the concluding stages and cost itself the race. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Quietness led the field of 12 and travelled strongly into the home bend before wandering about and opening the door for Don Diego De Vega to snatch the victory. Don Diego De Vega, trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, also found his way into the centre of the track under Zac Lloyd after coming from closer to the fence but didn't impede the run of any other horses in doing so. DON DIEGO DE VEGA wins the Grafton Cup! @ZacLloydx gets the best out of the @ANeashamRacing grey to take out the @clarenceriverjc 's feature race, running down Quietness with Zoology in third. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 17, 2025 It gives Lloyd his first win in the day two feature and he admitted he had to change plans after Bear On The Loose was a late withdrawal. 'My plan sort of changed in the barriers when Bear On The Loose got scratched as one of the speed runners in the race,' Lloyd said. 'Going to the gates he was full of energy so I was confident he was going to begin well and once he did that it made my job pretty easy. 'Got the perfect run behind Quietness and obviously it rolled off the fence and my bloke shot through. 'I probably should have changed my whip when he ran out but he was in front and it didn't matter.' Quietness fought back but was unable to bridge back the margin after losing all of its momentum and finished second for John O'Shea and Tom Charlton. Queensland raider Zoology ran on for third spot while Touristic was fourth.
News.com.au
09-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Gosford preview: Trainer Kylie Gavenlock anticipates a strong performance from Renoir in his mile test
Trainer Kylie Gavenlock has been quite happy with Renoir in his two runs back from a spell and feels the gelding can run a bold race when he gets his first opportunity over a suitable distance. The four-year-old was spelled after one run in September of 2023 and returned from his long break with a fifth behind Donwon over 1000m at Gosford on May 29. Renoir followed up with a fifth to Caelus over 1300m at Hawkesbury where he was doing his best work through the line. The four-year-old's pedigree also suggests he will be much better suited to the mile and further being a son of Dundeel from a granddaughter of Adrian Knox Stakes winner, Starry Way. It's a first up win for Photograph! ðŸ'· @ZacLloydx and @JamesCummings88 combine to take out the first at @sconeraceclub! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 2, 2024 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'He was only just getting wound up the last little bit the other day but he was very good after the post,' said Gavenlock. 'I was quite happy with his first-up run too. The distance was too short but I don't think the heavy track suited him. 'While he got through it okay, he will appreciate the bit better going this week. 'Now that we have got him up to the mile, I think that should suit him a lot more.' Gavenlock feels Renoir is ready to run much better than a $31 chance in the Eagles Plumbing Plus Super Maiden Plate (1600m). 'This doesn't look the strongest Super Maiden and I wouldn't have thought he would the price that he is. He is worth a couple of bucks each-way,' she said. Gavenlock's other two runners are both first-up but she feels they can run well. Alfred will resumes in the Bateau Bay Bowling Club Maiden Plate (1100m). While unplaced in his seven runs to date, Alfred has finished fourth and fifth in five of them. 'He's probably a little unlucky not to have had a couple of placings,' Gavenlock said. 'He is a horse that is not mature yet. He is a really leggy horse and I feel next time in, he will be a better deal.' The son of Saxon Warrior will need a little luck after drawing the outside barrier. 'It's a sticky gate for him. I would have liked he draw in a bit rather than (barrier) eight of eight. It is what it is. Thebes and @AnnaRoper_ race away with the third at Taree! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 7, 2025 'If he begins really well, he could get stuck out there but Josh (Parr) is no mug so hopefully he can make up for that draw. 'He will come out and find his feet and hopefully be flying home.' Gavenlock had a difficult decision to make with Thebes when she accepted for two races which he had mixed fortune with the barrier draw. In the Class 1 (1200m), he drew the outside in barrier 11 while in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) he came up with gate 2. 'It's a shame he didn't draw better in the Class 1 because this (Benchmark 64) is quite a strong race,' she said. 'Just being first-up, I wanted him to get a nice, soft run. I didn't want to take the chance of him being caught wide. 'I'd rather him flying home to run second not dropping out of it because he overraced early.' The son of American Pharoah has shown nice ability on his short career. He finished third behind Bartolf at Scone at just his second start last July while broke his maiden in nice style at Taree back on January 7. 'I like him a lot and when he gets up to 1400 metres and mile this time in, I think he will be a very nice horse,' she said. â– â– â– â– â– Ghaznavi may still be a maiden after 17 starts but trainer Cameron Crockett's faith in the gelding still remain strong. The four-year-old joined Crockett's Scone stable earlier this year and has placed in three of his five starts went within a nose of breaking through when a nose second behind Saint Philomena over 1400m at Mudgee last start. 'We are still figuring the horse out. He's been a hard to work out,' said Crockett. 'It doesn't normally take this long because he's got ability. 'He's a 17 start maiden but he's a got a lot more ability than that. 'It wouldn't shock me that once we get a good handle on him, he really puts a few wins together.' After settling back and wide from barrier eight of 11, Ghaznavi made a sustained run around the field and came down the outside fence to just miss. 🟣 Bhima Grad Winner 🟣 3YO Spandex (Pariah x Le Clercq) scores his maiden win for @saspery1 under @Aaronbullock90 at Tamworth. Bred and raised at Bhima, he was a graduate of our @mmsnippets GC Yearling Sale draft. Well done! â€' Bhima Thoroughbreds (@BhimaTBreds) June 27, 2025 'He was very unlucky. He was just stuck a bit deep from the draw and Will (Stanley) couldn't do anything about it,' he said. 'We were always planning on making an early run. It's just a shame he hadn't drawn a bit low and settled a bit closer because I think he would have won.' The son of Invader looks well placed to go one better when he steps out in the Maas Mile Maiden Handicap (1600m) with Mathew Cahill aboard. 'Now that he is up to a mile and the races are run at a steadier tempo, I think he can settle a bit closer which will help,' he said.' Crockett has liked what he has seen from recent stable addition Durova who makes her debut for the stable in the Toohey's New Benchmark 74 Handicap (1000m). The three-year-old daughter of Russian Revolution was previously trained by Ciaron Maher and won first-up last September while her last run was a handy fourth to First Mission at Canterbury on April 30. 'I bought her online a few weeks ago. She went through for $55,000 but failed the scope so they sent her back,' Crockett explained. 'My being an opportunist, when she went back online, I bought her for $13,000. 'Ash Morgan rode her at her at Canterbury and he said she was very unlucky not to have won after racing on the fence which was off that day. 'The 1000 metres might be a touch short for her but if she isn't winning, she will be the run of the race.'
News.com.au
24-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Jockey James McDonald resumes premiership chase at Wednesday's Randwick-Kensington meeting
Champion jockey James McDonald continues his relentless march towards a seventh successive Sydney premiership with six rides at Randwick's Kensington meeting on Wednesday. McDonald has ridden 81 Sydney winners so far in the 2024-25 and with 11 metropolitan meetings remaining for the season he has a commanding premiership lead over nearest rival Zac Lloyd on 64 wins then Jason Collett on 61. In the history of Sydney racing, only one jockey has won more than six consecutive premierships and that was Hall of Famer George Moore with eight titles in a row between 1961-62 and 1968-89. Although McDonald intends taking a short break before the new season starts on August 1, he is intent on winning his seventh Sydney premiership in a row, and his ninth overall. • 'Ever since I've been back from disqualification (in 2018) I have won the premiership each year,'' McDonald said. 'It's something I am very proud of and it would be lovely to win that title again.'' McDonald hasn't ridden in Sydney since earlier this month as he has been interstate and then travelled to Royal Ascot in England last week he is the star attraction at Wednesday's winter meeting. The world's number-one ranked jockey competes as fiercely at a Sydney midweek meeting as he does in a Group 1 race which is reflected by his consistent results and premiership success in recent years. McDonald, who has ridden exactly 100 career winners at Kensington for a healthy strike-rate of 17.7%, is on favourites Frosty Girl, Pink Shalala and Getafix. Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller has also had a sensational 2024-25 season with a national record of 19 Group 1 wins and has already secured his 15th consecutive Sydney trainers premiership with 132 winners. He has booked McDonald in five races on Indigo Star, Royal Air Force, Beside The Ocean, Frosty Girl and Pink Shalala. Trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton have secured McDonald for the Kensington closer on Getafix. In an exclusive interview with News Corp, McDonald reflected on his outstanding 2024-25 season, his hopes of equalling the national Group 1 riding record, and his horses to watch for the coming spring carnival. â– â– â– â– â– The Group 1 record McDonald is riding favourite Firestorm in the final Group 1 of the season, the $700,000 Tattersall's Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday and if successful he will equal the longstanding national riding record of 16 Group 1 races in a season set by 'Miracle' Mal Johnston in 1979-80. 'Firestorm is definitely a runner's chance,'' McDonald said. 'It would be a huge honour if I could get the record as I have great respect for 'Miracle'. He was an amazing jockey.'' â– â– â– â– â– The season McDonald has enjoyed a career-best season with 21 Group 1 winners so far in 2024-25 including six major race wins overseas. 'It's been a season to dream of, really,'' he said. 'I don't think I could beat what I achieved in the previous years but this season has exceeded them, to be fair. 'I'm extremely proud of my results and I also think back on those near misses in the Saudi Cup and the Dubai Turf so my season could have been off the charts.'' â– â– â– â– â– The highlight ðŸ�† AN INCREDIBLE RACE!! 🇯🇵 FOREVER YOUNG DEFEATS ROMANTIC WARRIOR IN THE 2025 SAUDI CUP!! #SaudiCup | @TheSaudiCup | @netkeiba | @JRAVAN_info | @yahagistable | #サウジカップ | #フォーエãƒ�ーヤング — Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 22, 2025 McDonald could easily have nominated his spectacular wins on champion mare Via Sistina in the Cox Plate and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, or any of his successes with Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior as his season highlight – but instead he chose a narrow loss in Saudi Arabia! 'It might sound funny but my highlight was the Saudi Cup, even though Romantic Warrior was narrowly beaten,'' he said. 'Obviously, I would have loved to have won the race but I learned so much from that loss. 'It was the most respect I have ever had for a racehorse's performance, to go down fighting like Romantic Warrior did that day (second to Forever Young). The duel those two horses had, and they were 11 lengths clear of the rest of the field, was epic.'' â– â– â– â– â– Romantic Warrior History is made! ðŸ�† ROMANTIC WARRIOR becomes the first three-time winner of the Longines Hong Kong Cup for @mcacajamez and Danny Shum! #HKIR | #HKRacing | @HKJC_Racing — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 8, 2024 Hong Kong's champion Romantic Warrior underwent surgery for a fetlock injury last month but has made a complete recovery and will return to racing later this year. 'Romantic Warrior seems fine now and will be back for sure,'' McDonald said. 'He will have his first run in November (Group 2 Jockey Club Cup) and then second-up he will be going for a fourth successive Hong Kong (International) Cup in December.'' â– â– â– â– â– The travel Just so good, Voyage Bubble! ðŸ'' We can't believe it's already 11 days since the crowning our second #TripleCrown winner in Hong Kong racing history... @mcacajamez #ThrowbackThursday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 5, 2025 McDonald's hectic schedule had him riding all over the world this season, winning races in Hong Kong, Japan, United Arab Emirates and England as well as his many commitments in Australian racing. 'I knew my schedule was always going to be pretty busy – it's affected my sleep patterns for sure,'' he said. 'I think it was my trips to the Middle East that really knocked me around the most. I did three trips in a few weeks and that took its toll. 'I've had to go to Hong Kong plenty of times but that is sort of in our time-zone and I've got that down to a bit of a fine art now. 'Then to get a winner at Royal Ascot last week was very special and capped off my season. â– â– â– â– â– Horses to watch Did we just see the Golden Slipper winner?! 😮 Wodeton wins brilliantly at Rosehill for @cwallerracing and @mcacajamez! @aus_turf_club | @CoolmoreAus — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 18, 2025 McDonald got to put Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton through his paces at Rosehill trackwork on Tuesday morning which is a sure sign that the countdown to the spring carnival has begun. The champion jockey revealed the horses he believes will make a huge impact in the new season – Chris Waller's outstanding rising four-year-olds mares Autumn Glow, Lady Shenandoah and Aeliana. 'Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah look unbelievably good – I think they are the two most exciting horses in the country,'' he said. 'One is trying to keep her unbeaten record intact (Autumn Glow) and the other keeps raising the bar (Lady Shenandoah). 'I would love to get back on Aeliana for sure but that is up to her connections. These three are lightly-raced and untapped, really.''
News.com.au
13-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Bjorn Baker doesn't want to miss his chance to be at Eagle Farm on Saturday to defend his Stradbroke crown.
Bjorn Baker was 16,000km away when he won the Stradbroke Handicap last year. But he won't miss his chance to be at Eagle Farm on Saturday as he vies to become the first trainer to win back-to-back Stradbroke Handicap crowns in 15 years. The high-flying Sydney trainer was in England last year for the wedding of jockey Rachel King when $16 chance Stefi Magnetica crossed the line first, with Zac Lloyd onboard. King would have almost certainly had jagged the ride if she wasn't tying the knot but in a sliding-doors moment, Lloyd grabbed the unexpected opportunity to score his maiden Group 1 victory. This year, Baker will pin his hopes on five-year-old gelding Robusto, with three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy to ride the $26 shot. 'No doubt we're going to need some luck from the wide gate (barrier 18) but it's one of those time-honoured races,' said Baker, who can become the first trainer to successfully defend a Stradbroke title since Con Karakatsanis in 2010 with Black Piranha. 'You come back as the defending champion and it's pretty amazing. 'One thing last year, when I won the Brisbane Cup and the Straddie on the same day I was actually in the UK so it'll be nice to be on track to win a big race like that.' Robusto will go into the Stradbroke first up, having not raced since being runner-up to Waterford in the $500,000 The Lakes (1600m) at Wyong on January 11, but neither Baker or McEvoy are concerned. 'He's had two good trials and a gallop between races so I don't think I could have him much fitter first up,' Baker said about the Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) winner from last December at Randwick. 'Look, he's been a great addition to the stable for (syndicators) Darby Racing and we're very grateful to have him.' Darby bought Robusto for $160,000 on Inglis Digital in September after he had delivered six wins and eight placings from 29 starts for Sydney's premier trainer Chris Waller. In seven starts for his new stable, Robusto has earned $1.6m in prizemoney, with the bulk of that haul coming from his victory in The Ingham. McEvoy said he was quietly confident about his Stradbroke chances, with Robusto carrying a lightweight 52.5kg and being 'a fresh horse on the scene'. 'I think Bjorn has him primed to run at a really high level,' he said. 'He's had a fair few trials and I rode him in a race-course gallop at Warwick Farm and he performed well. 'I think with 52.5kg on his back he's in with a shout for sure in what looks to be a really open race. 'Bjorn has got this horse going to a new level since he got him. He's really gone gangbusters and he looks in good condition. 'I don't mind the fact that he's a fresh horse on the scene. Whether he's good enough, we'll find out but it'd be nice to have a good run in transit and give the horse every chance.' Baker said he was still pinching himself about his 'unbelievable' golden run in which he will chase his fourth Group 1 of the season in Saturday's Stradbroke. 'A couple of things I really wanted to do this year is win one of the majors in The Championships in Sydney and I was lucky enough to win two (the Doncaster Mile with Stefi Magnetica and the Sydney Cup with Arapaho). 'I guess winning the Magic Millions (with O' Ole in January) is very special so it's been a remarkable season. 'I'm very lucky I've got some nice horses, a great team around me and some really good clients.'
News.com.au
12-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Jaden Lloyd and brother Zac chasing Group 1 double dream on Stradbroke Handicap day
Jaden Lloyd doesn't want to tempt fate but admits the thought of him and younger brother Zac both winning Group 1 races on the same day has crossed his mind. The 21-year-old Zac rides $19 chance Bosustow in the Stradbroke Handicap as the defending champion in the 1400m major after winning on Stefi Magnetica last year. Jaden will jump on board $34 shot Call Da Vinci in the earlier JJ Atkins (1600m) for two-year-olds. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I'd drop the mic, I'd retire,' Jaden joked about the possibility of both brothers winning their respective Group 1s. 'It would be unbelievable. Zac was here on Tuesday night and my partner (fellow jockey Courtney Ferris) mentioned that. 'Even if I can't win, at least if Zac can win the Stradbroke it'd be great.' Jaden, 23, will ride in his third Group 1 on Saturday after previous shots in the 2023 Oakleigh Plate at Sandown on Shooting For Gold (11th place) and the Tatt's Tiara on Electric Girl (16th) at Eagle Farm in the same year. • Larrikin truck driver has suit and speech ready for Stradbroke dream His proud parents Nicola and legendary former jockey Jeff will make a rare appearance at the racetrack on Saturday to watch their sons ride on Stradbroke day. 'Even if he comes he normally just stays in the car,' Jaden said of his dad, who won 15 Group 1s around the world before retiring in 2019. 'He doesn't like socialising with a lot of people. He'd rather stick to himself and chill in the car.' Apprentice jockey Jaden Lloyd winning aboard Call Da Vinci at Ipswich last month. Picture' Trackside Photography Jaden has settled into life on the Gold Coast after riding stints in Singapore and NSW, trying to land as many rides in the city as possible. He's been plugging away at provincial tracks such as Beaudesert, Ipswich, Gatton, Warwick, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast. • Ownership group split over Front Page's bid for Stradbroke glory 'I came back to Queensland knowing it was going to be very hard,' said Lloyd, who reckons Sunshine Coast is the best provincial track in the state. 'You've just got to try and find the right people to work for who are loyal. It's been hard trying to build those relationships but I'm slowly getting there.' The Bevan Laming-trained Call Da Vinci will jump from barrier 14 against a quality field led by local chances Cool Archie ($3.40) and Grafterburners ($8). The gelding beat Ciaron Maher's well-backed favourite Navy Pilot in the Sacred Elixir Handicap (1350m) at Ipswich last month before an impressive third in the Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm. 'I've done all the work on him, even before he raced I did his first jumpouts, and the Lamings (Bevan and son Richard) are very loyal,' Lloyd said. 'I was very confident in keeping the ride (for the JJ Atkins), even though I knew other jockeys would be trying to get on him. 'There's no pressure really, he's a bit of an outsider, although I think he should be shorter odds than what he is. 'I'm quietly confident that the horse has the ability to win the race if things go our way. 'He's going to put in 100 per cent because he's a very tenacious horse and hopefully he's good enough to win it.' Originally published as Jaden Lloyd and brother Zac chasing Group 1 double dream on Stradbroke Handicap day
