Lloyd ready for Golden opportunity to score big on Linebacker

Confidence is rarely a problem for young gun jockey Zac Lloyd.

The 22-year-old, a two-time champion Sydney apprentice and already a three-time group 1 winner, says he never doubted his ability to establish himself in one of the toughest jockeys’ rooms in world racing.

Lloyd knows that he has to keep improving, though, and is confident he will do that as well.

Now he just hopes Linebacker can do the same on Saturday at Royal Randwick, when the pair take on a class field headed by unbeaten star Autumn Glow and the world’s best jockey, James McDonald, in Australia’s second-richest race, the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m).

The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Linebacker, a dominant last-start winner of the Silver Eagle, was a $6 (TAB) chance in the four-year-olds feature, behind only Autumn Glow, which had firmed into $1.90. Japanese group 1-winner Panja Tower ($8) was the only other runner in single figures.

A win would be Lloyd’s biggest in terms of prizemoney, and his confidence was high after riding a treble on Everest day at Randwick and booting home four winners a week earlier at Rosehill.

“I’ve thrown a couple of good weekends together on some big days, so I think I’m riding really well and it’ll be good to bring that form into Saturday because it is the most important day of the year for me,” said Lloyd, a son of former international jockey Jeff Lloyd.

“I take a lot of pride in riding Linebacker, he’s a really good horse, so hopefully I can ride him well and he can run well. Being on the second favourite in the Golden Eagle is really important for myself and my career, so I’m really looking forward to Saturday.”

Lloyd’s recent hauls have taken him past 220 NSW city career winners in just over three seasons, a tally which was part of the most successful apprenticeship in Sydney racing in more than 40 years.

The rapid ascent, though, hasn’t always been smooth. Since his move from Queensland to Sydney for the 2022-23 season, Lloyd has spent more than his fair share of time in the stewards’ room, and he returns from another careless riding suspension on Saturday.

However, his talent and confidence have never been in question.

“I’ve always thought I could,” he said of establishing himself in the Sydney ranks. “I wouldn’t have moved here if I didn’t think I could compete with the likes of James [McDonald], Tommy [Berry] and all those boys every weekend.

“So it’s no surprise to me, it might have been a surprise to a couple of people, but I’m confident I can sustain this form and improve, as I probably have every year. Obviously, winning the Golden Eagle would be a step in the right direction.”

Victory would also be karma for Lloyd, who looked destined to win the race last year on a surging Stefi Magnetica before their run was blocked in the final 100m.

Like Lloyd, Linebacker has been a talented work in progress. Gelded before his three-year-old campaign, Linebacker returned a more settled galloper and broke through at group 1 level in the Randwick Guineas. It was Lloyd’s first ride on Linebacker and he has been aboard ever since.

“He’s proved it in group 1s that he’s a very good horse and he probably hasn’t shown everyone his true potential yet, but hopefully on Saturday,” he said.

“If he can win this race, he can really set himself up as a top horse in Australia and build off his performance - if he beats Autumn Glow, because obviously she’s very good.”

Lloyd got a taste of how good Autumn Glow is, riding her in a trial in February. The mare has won all seven starts, including the group 1 Epsom Handicap last time out.

“She gave me a great feel, so I know Linebacker has to be very good to beat her,” he said. “Both horses have drawn well, even the Japanese horse has drawn well, so it shapes to be a race where the best horse will win with the best ride.”

Linebacker was also heading to the Epsom, but a minor leg injury prompted a change in plans. Lloyd said while the injury “wasn’t ideal”, Linebacker’s two-and-a-half length Silver Eagle win showed he was back on track.

“The Silver Eagle was a bit of a concern for everyone,” he said. “We were intrigued to see how he would return. He’d been working and trialling really well, so it was good to see him put the writing on the wall in that race.

“If he won by a head or just got beaten, I would have been happy because I knew he had a lot of improvement to come fitness wise. He’s going to have to improve on Saturday, but hopefully he can.”