In the wake of star hoop James McDonald etching his name into Australian racing legendry mere hours prior, promising 22-year-old Zac Lloyd burst onto the scene as a top emerging force courtesy of a dazzling success aboard Great House in the $5 million Golden Slipper.
With rivals forming a blockade halfway into the straight, the young pilot on Great House kept his composure to weave through and propel the colt to dominance in a powerful finish.
This marked the first Victorian-bred triumph since Crystal Lily’s 2010 achievement, as Great House ($11) edged clear by 1-1/2 lengths over Blue Diamond Stakes champ Streisand ($7.50), followed by gallant Canberra runner Music Time ($1) in third, another half-length behind.
When Lloyd tailed McDonald’s Fireball mid-race, he recognized his prime positioning.
“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.”
Last year’s inaugural Golden Slipper ride ended without placing on King Of Pop, rendering him “speechless” for this second crack at the richest juvenile race globally.
Having dominated Sydney apprenticeships in 2022-23 and 2023-24, Lloyd thanked his family, particularly father Jeff Lloyd, the ex-jockey, for his development.
“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.”
Trainers savored their debut Slipper after seconds in colts/gelding Blue Diamond Prelude and elite Blue Diamond Stakes.
Price’s earlier near-misses included Samaready (2012) and Flying Artie (2016) independently, prompting Kent Jnr’s elation at partnering for the win.
“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.”
Streisand’s jockey Ben Melham called her runner-up effort “super gallant”, matched by Pierre Boudvillain’s pride in Music Time.
“Very proud of the horse the whole country team,” Boudvillain said.
Favourite Chayan at $5.50 faded to eighth, with Craig Williams citing her preparation’s end.
“She didn’t run up to her form, unfortunately,” Williams said.
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