Veteran Queensland hoop Jeff Lloyd believes the wide barrier draw for his mount Music Magnate in the 2017 Kingsford-Smith Cup could prove an advantage on Saturday.
Music Magnate has Jeff Lloyd aboard for Saturday’s 2017 Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Photo: Steve Hart.
Lloyd rides the Bjorn Baker-trained Sydney raider for the third time on the trot this weekend in Eagle Farm’s $700,000 Group 1 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m).
The Group 1 winning son of Written Tycoon will jump from barrier 12 of 13 after the withdrawal of Egyptian Symbol (3) and that might not be such a bad thing according the Lloyd.
“He’s a horse who doesn’t like to be cluttered so the barrier could help him,” the 56-year-old told Racing Queensland.
Two back Lloyd guided Music Magnate to victory on a Soft (7) Eagle Farm track in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) before things went amiss at Doomben last time out.
A fortnight ago Lloyd retained the ride on the five-year-old but the horse didn’t fire and finished a well beaten last behind Redzel when 13th in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m).
Lloyd, who chases his first Group 1 of the carnival, believes there were genuine excuses that day and hopes for an atoning performance in Saturday’s weight-for-age clash after Music Magnate passed a subsequent vet check.
“I thought there would be a bit more speed on,” the former South African hoop said.
“He never really got a chance and didn’t enjoy the track which was probably too heavy for him.”
Last Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival Music Magnate won the Doomben 10,000 when it was contested over 1350m before a failed 16th to Under The Louvre in Eagle Farm’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
He is likely to encounter another rain-affected Brisbane track this weekend but is better suited to the roomier Eagle Farm course, which has been the centre of much controversy since being revamped.
Lloyd enjoyed a record 156th season win on Wednesday at Ipswich guiding the Toby Edmonds-trained Pronteza to victory, the most by any Queensland jockey in a single season.
He is assured of a second premiership win in Brisbane, but would still love to add an elite level on the weekend with his sole Group 1 Queensland success to date being aboard Pear Tart in the Tattersall’s Tiara in 2012.
Music Magnate is currently rated a $13 shot in the latest Kingsford-Smith Cup betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Heading the odds at $3.40 is the Darren Weir-trained Black Heart Bart chasing a sixth Group 1 career win on the back of a failed seventh in last Saturday’s The Goodwood at Morphettville.
The other dangers include the Doomben 10,000 placegetters Counterattack (2nd) and Derryn (3rd) jumping from gates six and four respectively.
Check out the full range of Kingsford-Smith Cup 2017 odds and betting options online now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
