Zac Lloyd will be at long odds to produce his heroics of a week ago at Randwick, but regardless of whether he ticks off any more achievements, his season will go down as a success.
Lloyd stole the show at the Winter Stakes meeting, not only capturing the feature race on Tamerlane but celebrating his first four-timer at a Saturday metropolitan meeting.
He kept that momentum going with a Warwick Farm double on Wednesday and has seven mounts this weekend, although only two are at single-figure odds.
While the 20-year-old is unlikely to back up his four-winner haul, he is certain to wrap up a second champion apprentices’ title at the end of the month.
Edging out good friend Dylan Gibbons to claim the premiership last year, Lloyd already has this season’s crown sewn up and will join Robbie Dolan (2018-19 and 19-20) and Sam Clipperton (2012-13 and 13-14) as the only apprentices to win back-to-back Sydney junior riders’ titles in the past 20 years.
“The title wasn’t my main goal at the start of the season, but it was on my mind,” Lloyd said.
“It has been less stressful year this year than last when fighting against Dylan for the premiership.
“I’ve had a comfortable lead for most of the season, so I was focusing on the Group One (win) and building my connections with trainers.
“It’s good to get it done, not many people have won it twice.”
Lloyd’s Group 1 goal came to fruition last month with his Stradbroke Handicap triumph aboard Stefi Magnetica for Bjorn Baker.
Having watched on as Gibbons and fellow young rider and friend Tyler Schiller achieved at the highest level, Lloyd said celebrating one of his own felt like a long time coming.
“It was a relief to get that Group One win,” he said.
“To see them (Dylan Gibbons and Tyler Schiller) winning Group One races, you feel left out.
“But having good people around me has kept me grounded by telling me to keep working hard to get these results.”
Lloyd has seven mounts for six different trainers at Randwick and the two regarded as his best chances bookend the 10-race card.
Chris Waller two-year-old Good Sort ($6) will kick-start Lloyd’s day when she bids for successive wins in the opening race, while Godolphin filly Dipsy Doodle is a $5 favourite to return to the winner’s list in the final event.