On a day that celebrated James McDonald becoming Australia’s greatest Group 1 jockey, his heir apparent Zac Lloyd took centre stage with a dashing ride to land Rosehill’s Group 1 $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) aboard Guest House.
In a field considered the most competitive in Slipper history, Lloyd shouldered the $12 shot into clear running at the 200m mark and the big son of Home Affairs stormed through to capture the lead and race to an effortless success.
McDonald was the first to pat Lloyd on the back crossing the line, with the 22-year-old landing his biggest win in the saddle.
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“For him to be the first to congratulate me after a day like today, it’s very special. I’ll try get a photo of that,” Lloyd said.
“Massive thanks to Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr for the ride on him. He’s just looked like a very good colt from his first outing.
“Look at him, he’s got a great demeanour. He’s been a bit tricky but it all worked out very nicely today.
“I was quickening too well up the straight and was trying to find a gap but luckily he was going that well, he made one.
Zac Lloyd riding Guest House win Race 8 Tab Golden Slipper. Credit: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
“He’s done that quite dominantly.”
Zac is the son of former jockey Jeff, who had a storied career which featured 15 Group 1s all over the world before his retirement in 2019.
“It’s unbelievable. I’m very happy to be riding these type of horses and be able to get the job done,” Zac said.
“To my mum and my dad, I wouldn’t be the jockey I am or half the person I am without them.”
It was the young gun’s fourth Group 1 victory and when asked whether some day he could aspire to match McDonald’s deeds, Lloyd kept a modest head.
“He rides too many rockets but I’ll keep doing what I’m doing and we’ll see where that takes me,” he said.
Earlier, James McDonald had broken the all-time record for most Group 1 wins by a jockey aged just 34.
After steering Aeliana ($1.65) to victory in the Ranvet Stakes to tie Damien Oliver’s tally of 129 victories, the champion hoop kicked Autumn Boy ($2.50) to an easy success in the Rosehill Guineas to set his own mark.
Both horses were prepared by Chris Waller and the triumphs meant they also became the most successful winning Group 1 trainer-rider combination with their total of 55 besting the venerable Tommy Smith-George Moore benchmark, which concluded in 1971.
After the watershed win, McDonald hugged trainer Chris Waller and said: “Hey, that’s our record, too”.
“It’s lovely, but it’s a testament to the horses that I ride because they are phenomenal,” he continued.
“There’s no two ways about it, that I do ride the best horses and most favourites each race, and I’m blessed to have that opportunity.
“To get to a mark like this is obviously very special, especially with how I looked up to Damien Oliver.
James McDonald riding Autumn Glow win Race 7 The Agency George Ryder Stakes. Credit: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
“Watching as a 10-year-old kid, he was riding Melbourne Cup winners and one that comes to mind is Media Puzzle, when he went through so much adversity and still had the audacity to come out on top.
“He was just a phenomenal rider and I’m just blessed with a great family and support crew.”
McDonald later extended the record with Autumn Glow ($1.28f), who romped to a runaway glory in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and remained unbeaten after 11 starts.
McDonald’s Group 1 hat-trick on the card stands tall, though Lloyd contributed a treble of his own after earlier saluting with Barrengarry ($8) and Mr Monaco ($6) in undercard events.
