Lloyd, the lone student in the Cup

As he prepares to enter the ranks of senior jockeys in a few weeks, star young rider Zac Lloyd has the chance to try and add the Melbourne Cup to his growing list of achievements as an apprentice when he rides Athabascan at the Flemington track.

Lloyd is due to complete his training on November 28, having already ridden 350 winners, highlighted by Group 1 wins in this year’s Stradbroke Handicap on Stefi Magnetica and the Flight Stakes on Lady Shenandoah.

The 21-year-old two-time Sydney champion Arentis has locked in the Melbourne Cup race at Athabaskan days after the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding won the ATC St Leger Stakes over 2600m at Randwick on his last start. October 19.

Lloyd will compete in his second Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, finishing 20th at Kalapura after a midfield draw in last year’s 3200m.

He is the only student to take part in the race this year, and Athabaskan is set to jump the second barrier in the power field.

“Hopefully I can ride this horse better than I did last year,” Lloyd said.

“My trip last year wasn’t very good, but it was nice to be a part of this day and I’m looking forward to it (tomorrow).

“I’m not too worried about the price he (Athabasque) costs because I think he’s a real, stalwart and that’s kind of what you need to win the race.

“So I think he’ll be fine.”

Athabaskan finished second in the G1 Sydney Cup over 3200m during this year’s Autumn Carnival and is worth around $51 in Melbourne Cup markets.

Lloyd, who competed in nine hurdle trials in Sydney on Monday morning before turning his attention to Cup Day, will make three rides in Tuesday’s program and will have the chance to see pre-Cup aboard Athabaskan stablemate Cafe Millenium in the listed Furphy Plate. (1800m).

He also rides the Peter Snowden-trained Media World later in the program in Amanda Elliott’s list (1400m).