ZAC LLOYD TAKES THE TURN INTO THE NEW YEAR LEADING THE SYDNEY JOCKEY'S PREMIERSHIP

By Graham Potter | Thursday, January 1, 2026

With five months of the season completed, as we take the corner into the New Year, Zac Lloyd has the honour of leading the Sydney Metropolitan Jockey’s Premiership, a notable feat, even allowing for the absence of the perennial champion jockey James McDonald in recent months.

McDonald, who has just completed a short-term riding contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, last rode in Australia on Champions Day, November 8, over the Melbourne Cup Carnival and he will still not be in action at Randwick on Saturday having instead accepted a booking to ride in the Group 1 Telegraph at Trentham in New Zealand.

If you leave the door open, chances are someone will take up the running and, while the precarious nature of Zac Lloyd’s Premiership lead is highlighted by the fact that, after not having McDonald competing in Sydney for the last two months, Lloyd only leads McDonald by two winners, it is still a lead.

When business resumes as normal, it is expected that McDonald, who generally has the pick of rides, will range up alongside Lloyd, thank him for keeping his seat warm at the top of the table, and move away, heading off towards yet another Premiership win.

But, by just by being where he is at the moment, Lloyd is making a statement.

He is constantly evolving as a rider. He has managed to reel in the sometimes reckless enthusiasm which brought him undone with several suspensions earlier in his career … and the unfortunate and unwanted stop/start effect that had on his momentum at that stage of his career … without allowing the more measured approach to take anything away from his bravery, his focus, his sheer determination and his absolute desire … hunger, if you like … to win, a combination that any rival, including McDonald, might find hard to put back in a box.

Lloyd, who won two (back-to-back) Sydney Apprentice Jockey Premierships and who is already a Group 1 winning rider, has targeted and achieved success from the moment he got the leg-up for his first race ride and you can bet the Sydney Jockey’s Premiership will remain on his radar until it comes his way ... and beyond.

Not this season … or next season, perhaps … because, as things stand, McDonald remains likely to stand in Lloyd’s way, blocking that path, as long as he bases himself in Sydney. (It will be interesting to see how long McDonald can resist overtures from Hong Kong).

All Lloyd can do at the moment is give little reminders to everybody that he is right in the mix and is not going away … like leading the Jockey’s Premiership going into the New Year.

That is a great launchpad into 2026, a position hard earned and well deserved.

More articles