Zac Lloyd makes his Singapore riding debut on Sunday, with the gun Sydney-based apprentice jockey granted a one-day license to ride Invincible Tycoon in the $150,000 Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m).
Lloyd follows in the footsteps of his globetrotting father Jeff – who won the 2006 Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup on Mr Line for ex-Kranji trainer Pat Shaw – and brother Jaden (currently licensed) as the third family member to ply his trade as a jockey in Singapore.
Add first cousin Chad Schofield – who rides Golden Monkey in the EW Barker Trophy – and his uncle (and Chad’s father) Glyn – who won the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup on Gitano Hernando in 2011- and it is truly an extended family dynasty over the last 18 or so years at Kranji.
A point not lost on the 20-year-old rising star of Australian racing, when the opportunity to ride in Singapore presented itself earlier in the month.
“Jaden was the first to mention to me a few weeks back there may be chance to ride in Singapore,” said Lloyd from Australia on Thursday.
“So I was very keen given Jaden is based there now and we were living in Singapore as kids when Dad was riding at Kranji in the early 2000s.
“Mick Dittman (Racing Manager for Lim’s Stable) contacted Dad – who manages all my rides – about my availability for Invincible Tycoon and we jumped at the chance.
“I’ve never ridden overseas before and to ride against Jaden again, and in Singapore, will be great.”
And while Jaden does not have a ride in the feature race, the two brothers will go head-to-head in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1200m, with Zac on Lim’s Dreamwalker and his older sibling on Golden Sentience.
“I think the last time I rode in the same race as Jaden was in the Golden Eagle (over 1500m on 4 November, 2023) in Sydney,” explained Lloyd who won the coveted Bart Cummings Medal in 2023.
“That was a big day. It was a $10 million race and Jaden came down from Queensland (where he was based) to ride Knight’s Choice (finished 12th). I came third on Golden Mile.
“I have obviously followed Singapore racing very closely since Jaden has been riding there. He’s going well (three winners from 46 rides) and it will be interesting to see how he goes about things in Singapore.
“Nice to have that one race (race 7 on the 10-race card) where we can compete against each other.”
Of his five rides on Sunday – including Invincible Tycoon (x I Am Invincible) in what will be the last running of the EW Barker Trophy – Lloyd has done his homework but will wait until after riding commitments on Saturday in Sydney before fine-tuning tactics.
“I’ve looked at the replays and Dad has spoken to both Mick (Dittman) and (trainer) Steven (Burridge),” continued the 2022/23 Sydney champion apprentice.
“But it has been very hectic in Sydney with the Championships and I have rides in both Group 1’s (Tiz Invincible in the Schweppes All Aged Stakes and Tenbury Wells in the Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes) on Saturday.
“So I will get down to the nuts and bolts of all my rides and the opposition after the last on Saturday and I have plenty of time on the plane on Sunday too.
“But I have liked what I have seen of my ride (Invincible Tycoon) in the big race.
“He looks versatile and has won over 1400m (Class 3 company in May 2023) and placed over the same trip at Group level (Group 3 Silver Bowl in June 2023).
“I don’t think he runs many bad races and he showed last start in similar company to Sunday (finished third in the Group 3 Committee’s Prize over 1600m) that Steven has him at the top of his game.
“He has drawn wide (gate 12) but has no weight (50kgs) and I couldn’t be happier being on Invincible Tycoon. Hopefully I can give him every chance for connections.
“I have four rides before the main race, which will give me a good read on the track. And it will be also great to ride against some of the top local and international jockeys who are riding in Singapore. A good learning experience”.
And although still willing to learn his trade as an apprentice jockey, Lloyd brings a wealth of riding experience from the big races that belies his young age.
“I’ve been lucky to have some great opportunities in racing,” said Lloyd who started his riding career in Queensland in late 2020 before moving to Sydney in May 2022.
“Having Dad as my mentor and manager has been a big help and opened a lot of doors.
“But the move to Sydney worked out better than I thought. It was a big step and you are riding against some of the best jockeys in the world in some of the biggest races.
“I haven’t won a Group 1 race yet (two Group 2’s on his CV) but it was unreal to ride in races like the Everest, the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate. And to win the Bart Cummings Medal was a huge surprise.
“I’ve always wanted to be a jockey and am just thankful to be able to be living my dream.”
By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
