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By Ray Hickson

Like most onlookers at the official two-year-old trials last month, jockey Zac Lloyd can’t wait to find out what Icarian Dream has in the locker when she makes her debut in Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.

Zac Lloyd (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The Ciaron Maher-trained filly was visually the most impressive winner at the session on September 23 as she cruised to a three-quarter length win with Lloyd barely moving on her.

He says race day pressure is naturally different two barrier trials, especially with inexperienced horses, but his inkling is that she had quite a bit more to give.

“She felt really good to me, it’s not often you get a two-year-old travel like that on the bridle and just know what to do,’’ Lloyd said.

“She was very push button, which I think is going to help her in this race. She was super impressive, I still felt I had plenty of gears under hand if I was to ask her for an effort.

“With two-year-olds they do their work the majority on the bridle so when you get them off the bridle sometimes they can not have as much as you think but we’ll find out what she’s got."

Icarian Dream, $3.90 with TAB on Thursday, ran 49.43 for the 850m in the final heat of the session on the Kensington track and the trial’s last 600m (33.38) was the second quickest of the morning.

Lloyd said he’s pleased the Blue Point filly has drawn well in the Gimcrack and hopes that affords her the chance to unleash.

“The main thing is to try and get as smooth a run as possible,’’ he said.

“A good draw helps. As long as your two-year-old is comfortable and not getting buffeted too much in the run they’ll run well.

“Obviously it’s an unknown with all the other horses and how much improvement they’ve taken from their trials but she was really good.”

Like Godolphin trainer James Cummings, Lloyd is quietly confident Zardozi can bounce back from a couple of so-so lead ins to the Group 1 $750,000 James Squire Metropolitan (2400m).

Lloyd rode her in the Winx Stakes at the start of the campaign and feels there’s a reason why she hasn’t let down as sharply as she had last season.

“I think the step up to 2400m is going to be really good for her,’’ he said.

“To me she’s probably just needed those past two runs and hopefully she’s peaking on Saturday.

“I think the plan will be to ride her colder and make sure she is finishing her race off well. She was a bit close in her last run.

“If she brings her best form, her Group 1 formlines, she’s the best horse in the race and hopefully she can perform on the day.”

Zardozi’s two starts at 2400m and further have resulted in a Group 1 VRC Oaks win and a second behind Autumn Angel in the ATC Oaks.

Icarian Dream wins a Kensington trial on September 23

Zac Lloyd on Lady Shenandoah (race 6): “I know they have a great opinion of her, I think she’s a very good horse. I like the way she brings different formlines in the race, coming out of the Ming Dynasty beating a horse like Mayfair who came out and ran well in the Golden Rose.”

On Briasa (race 10): “He’s a very good horse, it’s a strong race so it’ll be interesting to see where he is. The horse is four from four, he couldn’t have found a harder benchmark 88 race and there’s some very nice horses in the race but with 52.5kg he’ll get his chance.”

All the fields, form and replays for TAB Epsom Day at Randwick on Saturday