OFF THE RECORD #143

The Lloyd-Payne Connection
A Winning Story Across Two Generations 

Forty years ago, Jeff Lloyd was South Africa’s champion jockey and David Payne was our champion trainer. Together, they enjoyed a barnstorming run of success with hundreds of winners between 1984 and 1991 including a string of Grade 1 strikes with runners like On Stage (Comedy Star), St Johns Wood (Lords), Petrava (Imposing), Tucaman (Golden Thatch) and Sealegs (Three Legs). 

Jeff won four of his six National Jockeys’ Titles while riding for Payne, and his erstwhile boss won two National Trainers’ Titles in the same period.  

Last weekend, four decades and two continents later, the story came full circle. Jeff’s son Zac, now one of Australia’s rising jockeys, rode a Group 1 winner for the same trainer when Proxima Dea (Tarzina) won Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes over 2000m at Randwick in Sydney. 

Payne’s influence was more significant in Jeff’s career, but his presence in both stories is remarkable, as is the international dimension Jeff explored in his time – something that has already become integral to Zac’s journey. 

Jeff was a sprightly 23 years old when he partnered Rain Forest (Elevation) to victory for Payne in the 1984 Grade 1 Germiston November Handicap at Gosforth Park, an event he describes in his biography, The Guv, released in 2020 and co-authored with Jane Baldwin. 

Jeff tells how, at the time, the legendary Michael ‘Muis’ Roberts was Payne’s stable jockey and had been booked to ride the well-performed Rain Forest. But Muis thought that Ricky Maingard’s entry Bodrum (Free Ride) would be a better mount and got off.  

Payne was unhappy with this move. He asked Jeff to replace Muis in the November Handicap and to become his stable jockey. In a race that would shape his future, Jeff easily won on Rain Forest while Bodrum finished unplaced. 

Payne is the same, no-nonsense professional he was in the 1980s. When Jeff, who now manages Zac’s career, phoned for the ride on Proxima Dea ahead of September’s Group 3 Schweppes Gloaming Stakes over 1800m at Rosehill, the trainer was clear: “James McDonald and Chad Schofield have also asked. If Zac wants to ride her, he will have to commit to her next three runs.” 

That commitment was made, and has yielded successive Group wins for Payne and the young Lloyd, with the Group 1 VRC Oaks at Flemington on 5 November next in Proxima Dea’s sights. 

Payne, who has saddled a Group 1, two Group 2s and two Group 3s from a barn of just 14 horses this season, said Zac has his dad’s superb racing brain, dedication and focus. 

“Jeff was a truly exceptional jockey in his prime and Zac is going the same way. About 10 years ago, Jeff sent me a video clip of young Zac riding work and I said, ‘Jeff, he is a natural. He’ll be a top jock!’” 

In The Guv, Jeff notes that Payne gave him a chance in his early 20s, took him back in his mid-40s and gave him a third chance to make another comeback later in his mid-50s. 

“We got on each other’s nerves back in 1991 and split up, but he helped me to establish myself in Australia in 2007 and again in 2015 after I’d recovered from a stroke.” 

Jeff’s history with Payne makes Zac’s achievement all the more special, particularly given how far the young jockey has already come in his own career. 

At just 22, Zac already has 57 stakes winners to his credit, including seven Group 1s. Jeff commented: “When Proxima Dea ran through the line last Saturday, I sent David Payne a message and said, ‘Wow, it’s amazing. I would never ever have dreamed that my young son would ride a Group 1 winner for you, and you’re 81!’ 

“Payne replied: ‘Watch what you say, I am 78. I know where you live!’” 

Jeff disagrees with Payne’s assessment of Zac’s ‘racing brain’: “Zac’s brain is a whole lot better than mine ever was. There is no comparison, and I don’t just say that because he is my son. He is very sharp, reminds me a bit of Douglas Whyte in the way he approaches his career. 

“Zac thinks way ahead in everything he does. He studies every horse in every race he rides and tries to anticipate what will happen, how fast the pace will be, which jockeys will make their moves first and at what stage of the race they will do it. He even writes things down, which is something I never did.  

“Much of Zac’s success comes from his ability to judge the pace, which is vital here in Australia. The draws only come out after rides have been booked and there are no false rails on the tracks. It’s as competitive as you can get, so you have to know your oats and come prepared.” 

He added: “I never made notes, perhaps because I was never good at school. I studied form before every race so I knew exactly what I was riding, but that’s where it stopped. Zac loved school, he was an outstanding student and enjoys figuring things out on paper. 

“We used to discuss Zac’s every mount and plan together, but about six months ago I stopped giving my input. Zac does his homework so well that I was shown up on tactics and strategy a few times, and he was always right. Now, I leave it all to him. He sees things I can’t see.” 

Zac, like Jeff, weighed just 28kg as a boy and was tiny for his age. But he excelled at sport just as he did academically. He was particularly good at cricket, playing as a wicketkeeper and all-rounder, and was named Queensland’s Champion Under-13 Cricketer.  

Jeff said: “Zac was too small to hit sixes, but he opened the batting and often finished with the most runs because he stole singles with clever shots into open spaces. He was also very nippy between the wickets. There were times when he and his taller brother Jaden opened together, and Jaden complained that he had to run far too much.” 

Zac has also grown physically in recent years and, at 5ft 7in, now stands taller than his dad. 

Jeff noted: “I’ve heard people say that Zac looks like me in the saddle, that we have the same style. But that’s an illusion. I taught him to ride, told him to stick to the basics and not to watch videos of me. 

“From the beginning, he developed his own style. For starters, he rides long. I rode short in the irons and was a bouncer, something I started doing successfully in my 30s. It took a long time to incorporate the bounce, and it eventually became unique to my style. Zac doesn’t bounce at all, and I hope he never will because trainers don’t like that.” 

While Jeff broadened his horizons with successful stints in Mauritius, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong, he never enjoyed the travelling. Zac, by contrast, loves jet-setting and the opportunities to ride in different countries. 

Zac stayed with fellow young gun Luke Ferraris during a visit to Hong Kong last year, and hosted his friend and newly crowned UK Champion Billy Loughnane in Australia earlier this year. 

It was Billy who opened the door to riding opportunities in the UK, including at Royal Ascot. When trainer George Boughey needed a lightweight jockey, he booked Zac on Moonfall, who went on to win the Britannia Stakes over 1600m on Day Three of the 2026 Festival. 

Jeff said: “Zac’s ambition is to be internationally renowned, something that counts more than titles or money. He will definitely jump at any opportunity to ride in Hong Kong, and he also has an open door to Japan, where he finished second in the All Stars competition staged at Sapporo Racecourse last August.” 

While Zac may not be focused on chasing titles, they will undoubtedly be chasing him! At the time of writing, he holds an 11-winner lead over eight-time champion James McDonald in the coveted New South Wales Metro Premiership. 

Jeff concluded: “My one piece of advice to Zac has been to stay modest, always to keep his feet on the ground. Things go wrong when your head goes into the clouds, and that is something he’ll be guarding against.” 

The veteran Payne, meanwhile, intends to keep churning out winners for as long as possible. And although he is now a fully-fledged Australian, he still proudly cheers on the Springboks!