Insurrection to go the distance at Randwick

Posted by RS NewsWire at 8:10pm on December 7th

Champion apprentice Zac Lloyd will bid to maintain his perfect record on Insurrection as the sprinter faces a distance test in the Racing And Sports Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick.

Lloyd has a remarkable affinity with the Michael Freedman -trained speedster who he has ridden four times for as many wins, including a premiership-clinching victory in July.

After missing Insurrection’s first-up run, a fourth behind Hard To Say at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, Lloyd was back in the saddle for The Warra (1000m) where the gelding comfortably outsprinted his rivals on a heavy track.

Saturday’s Listed assignment looks to have attracted a marginally stronger field, but Freedman says the big question mark for Insurrection is the journey.

A three-time winner over 1100 metres, the four-year-old is yet to taste success in five starts over further, although he was narrowly beaten over 1250 metres at Canterbury last spring.

“The big difference is stretching him out to 1200 metres, which is somewhat new territory for him because he has been mainly restricted to those shorter course, 1000, 1100-metre races,” Freedman said.

“But he’s a pretty mature sprinter these days and while he may have been a little bit suspect early days when he was wanting to do things a bit too aggressively, he is a bit more mentally mature now.

“It’s definitely worth trying him again because I think if we can stretch him to 1200, going forward it opens a lot more options for him.”

The winner of six of his 18 starts, Insurrection is building a handy record.

Lloyd was moved to declare the son of Russian Revolution his favourite horse after their Warra victory and Freedman said keeping the star youngster on board was a no brainer.

“I guess he doesn’t forget that the horse helped him secure the apprentices’ title last season,” Freedman said.

“He’s got a great affinity with the horse and the old saying, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.”

Lloyd currently sits fifth on the Sydney jockeys’ premiership with 21 wins and has rides in nine of the 10 races at Randwick including Hinged for Chris Waller in The Ingham (1600m), Tokyo Lady for John Sargent in the Inglis Nursery (1000m) and Victorian Excelleration in the Santa Cup (2000m).

More Racing News

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th