Fresh from being crowned Sydney’s champion apprentice,Zac Lloyd has carried his rich form into the new season and moved a step closer to his next milestone in the process with a winning double at the Randwick-Kensington meeting.
Lloyd’s victories both came for Team Hawkes, the young hoop booting home Enotis in the Bivouac @ Darley Handicap (1800m) before steering home Stromboli in the TAB Handicap (1100m).
The midweek brace takes Lloyd’s total tally of metropolitan victories to 78, meaning he needs just two more until he outrides his 1.5kg claim.
He could achieve that as early as Saturday when he has nine rides at Rosehill, including Ingratiating for boss James Cummings in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) and the Annabel Neasham-trained Fawkner Park, the $2.60 betr favourite for the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m).
Lloyd is coming off a remarkable season in which he and Dylan Gibbons went toe-to-toe for the Sydney apprentices’ title, the 19-year-old only wrapping it up at the final meeting of the 2022-23 term.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Lloyd was quick to get on the board for the new season via Enotis, who successfully navigated the challenging leap to midweek city grade after breaking his maiden at Kembla Grange last start.
Lloyd has partnered the four-year-old to both wins and says while Enotis is still immature, he has the scope to develop into a promising horse.
“I came here with a lot of confidence. I was very happy with the way he won last start, he was very strong to the line, and I thought the 1800 was perfect today and the addition of the winkers was really good,” Lloyd said.
“He’s a big baby. You can see him just walking around the mounting yard and just cantering to the gates, he’s like a big giraffe.
“Once he figures out how to race properly, I think he’s a very progressive stayer.”
Stromboli is also lightly raced and after winning his first start as a gelding on Wednesday, connections are hoping the brother to 2013 Golden Slipper winner Overreach can realise his racetrack potential.
“I still think there’s a lot of improvement to come from this horse,” Lloyd said.
“He’s still a bit keen and doesn’t quite know what he’s doing but the ability is definitely there and once he puts it together, he’s a very nice horse.”
