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By Ray Hickson

The unbeaten run has ended but jockey Zac Lloyd is quietly confident he can avenge Insurrection’s narrow last start defeat when they tackle Monday’s Listed $200,000 Kia Canterbury Sprint (1200m).

Zac Lloyd on Insurrection (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Lloyd narrowly failed to make it five wins from as many rides on the Michael Freedman-trained gelding when he was run down in the shadows by Recommendation, who opposes him again, over the Randwick 1200m in the Razor Sharp on December 9.

He said despite that close call last start the run confirmed he's up to stakes grade and there’s every reason to think his rise isn’t finished, especially if he can carry the 59kg to victory.

“He’s improving every start, he’s consistent and until he shows he’s not up to the grade you never know where he’ll get to,’’ Lloyd said.

“He definitely deserves a race like this, he was quite stiff not to get the bob in last start to make it five from five together.

“He’s a very good horse and I’m excited to be back on him.”

Insurrection, $4.20 with TAB on Sunday, came up with the plum barrier of gate two in the Canterbury Sprint and Lloyd said that will be crucial to his chances in a race where there looks to be genuine speed.

He has fellow Darby Racing syndicated speedster Malkovich drawn near him and the likes of noted on pacers Spaceboy and Brudenell drawn wide to potentially press the issue early.

“There looks to be a lot of speed so I was very happy with the barrier,’’ he said.

“He’s relaxed a lot better in his races than he did last time, he was a bit aggressive for some reason.

“When he draws well he always jumps sharply as you saw at Kembla Grange. I’ll come up with the best game plan for him.”

Lloyd said he made a decision to edge off the fence on Insurrection in the Razor Sharp and while that ultimately proved his downfall he was impressed with how the horse fought back.

“After watching the races through the day I thought the best lane was three or four off the rails,’’ he said.

“So I opted to come out there and the winner’s come on my inside to beat me. He fought when he saw that horse again and just went down by the bob.”

It’s been over a month since Lloyd partnered the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Fickle to a barrier trial win and he hopes that knowledge comes in handy when she finally steps out in the Ranvet Plate (1200m).

The three-year-old is the first foal to race from multiple stakes winning mare Flippant and Lloyd said if she does everything right she should run a big race on debut.

“She goes very well. When I sat on her I was very impressed, that was quite a while ago,’’ he said.

Insurrection runs second at Randwick on December 9

“The Snowdens should have her ready to go. She’s a horse that probably needs a good barrier because she can get quite aggressive.

“They told me she was a bit aggressive but when I trialled her she was aggressive but controllable so that’s always good.

“I feel like I could give her a message out of the gates and she will come back underneath me.”

All the fields, form and replays for Monday’s Canterbury meeting