Gary Harley
Zac Lloyd second to James McDonald in the Metropolitan Jockeys Premiership as the 2025-26 season is nearing completion, bagged four winners at the Newcastle Jockey Clubs race meeting on Tuesday. The son of a gun (his father Jeff Lloyd rode 91 Group 1 winners around the world) only recently returned home to Sydney after riding winners at Royal Ascot and South Africa. On Tuesday he was first past the post on two mounts for Richard Litt and one for Chris Waller and Tom Charlton.
Lloyd opened the day aboard Litts 3-year-old Tellurium, an impressive winner of the 1250-meter A-Plus Contracting and Poly Welding Maiden Plate. Purchased for $475,000 at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearlings Sale Tellurium never raced when in the Waterhouse-Bott stable before being sold to Litt Racing for $11,000. The 3-year-old was having his third start for Litt after an eye-catching performance second up at Warwick Farm on June 24 when he came form fourteen lengths off the lead before the home turn and just missed second placing.
On Tuesday Tellurium was backed form $4.40 into $2.80 he raced at the tail of the field until the top of the straight and after sprinting quickly the gelding was set for an easy win but clocked off late to win by a nose.
Lightly raced 3-year-old Nuns Chorus with Lloyd in the saddle won her second race on the trot when successful in the Sharp Office Midway Class 1 Handicap. The filly came from last in the small field to win running away at Goulburn on July 3 and well supported into $4 on Tuesday, Lloyd settled her back in the field and she let up in the straight to win by three quarters of a length.
Wallers 3-year-old filly Enviable a daughter of the world’s best sire Frankel had been placed in three of six starts before resuming from a spell in the 1400 metre NZB Maiden Plate on Tuesday. Runner up in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Classic in her last start in October Enviable was the shortest priced favourite going into the barrier at odds of $1.12. Lloyd put her in the box seat, and she won effortlessly by 2.62 lengths.
Waller was also successful with the Godolphin bred and owned 3-year-old Sphere in the 1250 metre New FM/2HD Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate. Placed in five of six starts Sphere resumed form a spell with Sam Clipperton in the saddle and the $1.55 favourite led all the way to win by .87 of a length.
The Kiwi bred and owned Movie Night was also a winner on the day for Lloyd and trainer Tom Charlton. Placed in all three starts this preparation the 3-year-old filly led from the start to win by half a length.
Talented 3-year-old Columbus touted as a potential Derby prospect last spring resumed with the easiest of wins for the final event the 1400 metre Horsepower Benchmark 64 Handicap. carrying the Arrowfield colours with Aaron Bullock aboard the son of Dundeel was given a gun ride by Bullock and after settling in fifth place her steered the promising stayer through a gap halfway down the straight and he went to the line under a hold to win by 1.75 lengths.
Part owner John Messara said on Sky Thoroughbred Central that Columbus had to be spelled due to bone soreness after winning at Hawkesbury in October.