Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Lloyd Sets Sights On Premiership Defence

Zac Lloyd has set himself the goal of defending his champion apprentice title after having the chance to celebrate his achievement with another win on Insurrection at Randwick.

Zac Lloyd with his parents Nicola and Jeff after winning on Insurrection. (Pic: Bradley Photos).

It’s not going to be easy for the 19-year-old to defend as his 76 wins this season means he’ll start the 2023/24 season on Wednesday just four wins shy of outriding his apprentice claim.

"I will be giving it my best shot (to win next year),’’ Lloyd said.

“I will be staying in my time obviously until I am out next November so straight back into it on Wednesday."

Lloyd had already sealed the title, despite not riding an early winner, by the time until Insurrection posted his third straight win over the Randwick 1100m but it was clear the win was important to him.

He didn’t ride his first city winner until September and endured 10 suspensions which meant momentum was hard to come by. He finished runner-up in the Sydney Jockey Premiership to James McDonald and wound up four clear of Dylan Gibbons to add his name to the apprentice honour roll.

"It's a very surreal feeling. I got to thank this horse, he has really kept me alive the past couple of weeks,’’ he said.

“He has given me three winners on the bounce and it's a big thank you to obviously everyone who has supported me this year.

"I wouldn't have expected it probably a year ago so it's a massive thrill and I am very proud of myself."

Proud parents Jeff and Nicola Lloyd were trackside to cheer their son on and Jeff Lloyd, a former champion jockey himself, said it was a great moment to watch Zac claim the title.

“To me it’s a great achievement for him, to have so many ups and downs and make so many mistakes and still come out on top,’’ he said.

“You’re riding against world class riders. I’m so proud of him.”

Spring Beckons For $1m Colt Caballus

Chris Waller put an exclamation mark on his best two-year-old season and produced a spring hopeful when Caballus handed him his 25th juvenile winner for 2022/23 at Randwick on Saturday.

Caballus (outside) wins at Randwick. (Pic: Steve Hart).

As his star colts, Golden Slipper winner Shinzo and ATC Sires’ and Champagne winner Militarize, prepare to kick off their spring with a “poke around” in a Canterbury trial on Tuesday, the champion trainer predicted we’ll see more of Caballus in the future.

The $1 million yearling purchase upstaged the dual between fillies Estriella and Shaken to win the ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1100m) by a narrow margin from the former with the latter three lengths away in third.

“I think the second horse is a pretty decent horse and it was good to see them fighting out the finish,’’ Waller said.

“We wanted to get his first win out of the way and join up (with the carnival) where we can. He ran very well on debut, just had no luck, and I think the positive out of that is he had a good experience and today he knew what he was here for.

“He has a three-year-old’s body and he’s ready for his three-year-old year.”

Waller said a race like the Listed Rosebud (1100m) on August 12 would come up too quickly and he feels 1200m or 1300m would be more suitable.

Jockey James McDonald, who capped another premiership with a double at Randwick, was suitably impressed with Caballus and believes at least 1400m will be within his range. He’s $26 in the TAB’s all-in Golden Rose market.

“He’s a cracking horse, a really good moving horse, good attitude so it will take him a long way,'' McDonald said.

“It’s nice to knock off a nice, sharp two-year-old race with him and hopefully the three-year-old season is good to him.

Camaguey Has Waugh Dancing Toward November

When Kim Waugh snapped up former Godolphin galloper Camaguey she hoped he’d prove worthy of being aimed at the $3 million Big Dance and with a breakthrough win at Randwick that’s exactly where the gelding will be pointed.

Camaguey had already earned eligibility for the Big Dance with his win in the Mudgee Cup (1600m) back in December last year and that was part of the appeal to the horse’s new owners when he was put up for sale.

After an unlucky fifth two weeks earlier, Waugh was rapt with the change of fortune at his fifth start for the stable in the ATC Thank You Owners Handicap (1800m).

“The guys bought him hoping that he would have a nice prep, he’ll go out and have a freshen up now and come back and we’ll get him ready for the Big Dance or the Little Dance,’’ Waugh said.

“We also had French Bonnet (eligible for) the Big Dance but she has a little injury and she will miss it now.

“He was really strong today, Nash (Rawiller) rode him beautifully and he was very strong through the line.”

Camaguey’s rating will reach around 80 with Saturday’s win and while it doesn’t guarantee him a spot in the $3 million feature on November 4, with benchmark ratings deciding the field from eligible horses, Waugh said it’ll still be exciting if he winds up in the $750,000 Little Dance on the same day.

Mogo Passes Biggest Kosciuszko Test

Trainer Scott Collings is planning to have unbeaten sprinter Mogo Magic on show when the 14 winning tickets in the $2m The Kosciuszko are drawn on September 8.

The Goulburn trainer revealed his plan for selection in The Kosciuszko after his stable star made it five from five with a trademark gutsy win in the Godolphin Lifetime Care Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.

Nick Heywood and Mogo Magic (Pic: Steve Hart)

Mogo Magic remained $6 in TAB’s Kosciuszko market and a relieved Collings said we’ll next see him in September and he’ll have one run at 1200m before the $2m feature on October 14.

“He’ll go home, have a break and he’ll trial at Goulburn on the day the slots are drawn,” Collings said.

“I think on today’s effort 1200m is not going to be a problem.

“He’s the best horse I’ve ever had. I was a bit nervous, we were coming out of TAB Highway grade and there were a lot of people saying is he the real deal and he showed them that he is.”

Jockey Nick Heywood is also adamant 1200m won’t be beyond Mogo Magic, who despite not leading still ran the fastest 1000m-800m of 10.46 (Punter's Intelligence) to sit outside Authentic Jewel.

“When the leader said she’s going to lead I was happy to sit off her,’’ he said.

“I know that we’ve been trying to teach him at home in his gallops to sit off them and pick them up and he did exactly what he did there. Geez he let rip when I asked him.”

The $5 tickets in The Kosciuszko sweepstakes, where 14 winners will have the chance to share in the $2m prizemoney, are on sale now to NSW residents via TAB outlets and the app, pubs and clubs and at race meetings.

All the results and replays from Saturday's Randwick meeting