Insurrection delivers again for Zac Lloyd in The Warra at Kembla Grange

Shayne O’Cass - Racenet

Insurrection was bred by Bob Hannon who also bred the newest Warra winner’s most famous relative, namely Cox Plate winner and successful stallion, Shamus award.

Zac Lloyd will forever have a special place in his heart for Insurrection, who helped deliver the Sydney apprentices title last season and gave him a second win in The Warra.

Reigning champion apprentice Zac Lloyd made it back-to-back wins in The Gong’s co-feature sprint on Saturday aboard what he immediately declared to be “his favourite horse”.

The horse in question is Insurrection who may not have the same star billing as some of those that Lloyd has ridden in an Everest, Melbourne Cup or Cox Plate but there’s none better in his eyes than The Warra winner.

“I love this horse,” Lloyd said.

“He is probably my favourite horse of all time. He just tries so hard and I never felt getting beat there today.”

Lloyd remains forever grateful to Insurrection who helped him seal the deal on the 2022/23 Sydney apprentices’ title by winning the third last metropolitan race of the season and more besides.

“It’s a very surreal feeling,” Lloyd said at the time.

“I’ve got to thank this horse, he has really kept me alive the past couple of weeks.

“He has given me three winners on the bounce and it’s a big thank you to obviously everyone who has supported me this year.”

Lloyd, who won last year’s The Warra in the Godolphin blue aboard Athelric, was in the Darby colours this time around turning in the perfectly judged frontrunning ride on what was more or less a frontrunners track on the big day.

Never pressured, never challenged, horse and rider sailed to a comprehensive win in the 1000m dash for cash.

Novocastrian Quick Tempo took most ground off the winner from the back while the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace galloper Recommendation held his ground for third.

“Normally (Insurrection) doesn’t travel that nicely from about the 800m to the 400m” Lloyd explained.

“The speeds he was doing, he was doing so comfortably and he was ahead of the game today.”

Insurrection is a son of Russian Revolution whose own wet track credentials are peerless given he beat dual Everest winner, Redzel, in the Group 1 ATC Galaxy on a Heavy 10 in 2017.

The Michael Freedman-trained gelding was knocked down to Darby Bloodstock for $150,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Insurrection was bred by Bob Hannon who also bred the newest Warra winner’s most famous relative, namely Cox Plate winner and successful stallion, Shamus award.