Apprentice hoop Zac Lloyd is confident Athabascan can prove a few doubters wrong in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Lloyd confident Athabascan can make Melbourne Cup impact
Apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd believes Athabascan can silence a few doubters when he steps out in the 2024 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday.
Top betting sites have the six-year-old gelding listed as a +6000 outsider heading into Australia’s greatest race, but Lloyd is convinced his mount has the tools required to make an impact.
“I’m not too worried with the price he is because I think he’s a true, out-and-out stayer and that’s sort of what you need to win the race,” he said on Monday.
“So I think he’ll go well.”
The only apprentice in the field, Lloyd is determined to make up for a disappointing Melbourne Cup debut aboard Kalapour last year.
“Hopefully I give this horse a better ride than I did last year,” he said.
“My ride last year wasn’t great, but it was good to be involved with the day and I’m looking forward to it (tomorrow).”
Athabascan will jump from barrier two in the Melbourne Cup, which is set to start at 3pm AEDT on November 5.