Chris Waller & Zac Lloyd have combined with Tajanis ($2.40) to claim the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm on Monday afternoon, giving the potential star stayer his first stakes victory since arriving to Australia.
It was a relatively easy watch if you had taken the short price with horse racing bookmakers, as the son of Australia lobbed into a perfect mid-field position throughout the journey.
Lloyd was patient aboard the five-year-old gelding, letting it all unfold before him as Bullets High ($7.00) strode to the front in the early stages, leaving Melbourne-raider Convener ($14.00) pulling his way outside the leader.
Kerrin McEvoy was unable to get Convener to settle in the run, forcing the Ciaron Maher-trained galloper to press on with the job at the half-way point of the race.
The rank outsider with Neds, Akua’rius ($81.00), took off at the 800m pole, setting it up perfectly for Taramansour ($7.00) to make his run on the three-wide line, while Saltcoats ($3.60) appeared to be travelling beautifully for James McDonald as they hit the home straight.
It was Zac Lloyd smoking the pipe in the final 400m, however, unleashing Tajanis down the centre of the course to claim the $200,000 feature in stylish fashion, leaving Taramansour and Saltcoats playing for the minor money.
Warwick Farm 2025 Australia Day Cup Replay – Tajanis
Stable representative Zane Jones was on course to break down the victory.
“Yeah, He’s a horse racing at the top of his game, full of confidence,” said Jones.
“It was a masterful ride by James (McDonald) the other day to get the job done, and he’s just really reacted well from that and then another good ride today from Zac (Lloyd).
“Well-weighted today but still want to go out there and do it. It’s a hot day. He got a little bit warm pre-race, but as I said, he’s just full of confidence, and that showed him the finish.”
Jones then spoke to the performance of stable companion, Saltcoats.
“It was a good effort. Written a peach by James.
“He’s just perhaps a suspect at a mile and a half, but look, there’s plenty of options for him coming up and he continues to get a check for his connections.”
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