Zac Lloyd has already played a key role in helping Nacim Dilmi begin his training career, and this weekend he has the chance to deliver his close friend another milestone at Newcastle. Lloyd rode Dilmi’s very first winner, Aix En Provence, at Wyong earlier this season, and now hopes to be part of his maiden stakes triumph when Probability Theory lines up in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m).
Dilmi, who previously spent several years under James Cummings at Godolphin, has taken over as Domeland’s private trainer following Sara Ryan’s departure. Lloyd, who completed the latter stages of his apprenticeship at Godolphin, remains a long-time friend and supporter.
“I’m excited to team up with him in a feature race,” Lloyd said.
“He’s a good friend of mine and he has improved this horse quite quickly. It has strung together two nice wins.
“I rode his first winner which was quite exciting so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do on Saturday.”
Probability Theory heads into the Spring Stakes off consecutive victories over 1300m at Hawkesbury and now steps out to the 1600m journey for the first time. It also represents a sizeable jump in class from Midway Benchmark 64 company, though Lloyd believes the field outside favourite Grand Prairie is similarly inexperienced.
“He is stepping up drastically in grade but in saying that, the majority of the field are beside Grand Prairie,” Lloyd said.
“The horse will acquit himself well.”
Lloyd’s strong book for the Newcastle program also includes early favourite Yorkshire in the $1 million The Hunter (1300m), with the gelding commencing a preparation geared toward next month’s The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick.
“That is his target race, but when a horse doesn’t really know how to lose like he does, he’s definitely in with a good chance,” Lloyd said.
Yorkshire has been expertly managed by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton to secure six wins from eight starts, and O’Shea himself won The Hunter in 2021 with Lost And Running.
If you’re backing a runner in the Spring Stakes or The Hunter, compare bookmakers at JustHorseRacing’s bookmakers page.
