Zac Lloyd wins the Gr 1 Randwick Guineas on a Tom Charlton and John O’Shea-trained horse called Linebacker (Picture: John O’Shea Racing)
At least 15 South Africans rode in Australia last season and how they fared can be read below in Australian log order.
Jeff Lloyd’s sensational younger son Zac Lloyd finished in 21st position on the Australian log last season with 97 wins at 1.3% and earnings of $14,566,360. He had his first Gr 1 win in the 2023/2024 season when landing the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on the Bjorn Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica and he added two more Gr 1s last season, winning the Flight Stakes at Randwick on the Chris Waller-trained Lady Shenandoah and winning the Randwick Guineas on Linebacker, who gave trainer Tom Charlton his first Gr 1 win, although it was a 30th Gr 1 victory for co-trainer John O’Shea. Zac also won five Gr 2 races last season and Two Gr 3s and three Listed races. He also won two other big money feature races. Zac is based in New South Wales and has had one win in eleven starts so far this season.
Keagan Latham had a fine 2024/2025 season with 81 wins at a strike rate of 14.9% for earnings of Aus$3,462,050 which put him in 39th position on the Australian log. He is based in New South Wales and has had one win so far this season in 15 rides.
Sean Cormack was in 56th position with 73 wins at a strike rate of 13.2% for earnings of $2,086,130. He is based in Queensland and has had four wins in 27 rides this season.
Chad Schofield, son of former top Durbanite jockey Glyn Schofield, had 51 wins at 12.2% last season but had big earnings of $11,675,865 as he was associated with the top horse Ceolwulf, who won two Gr 1s last October, including the King Charles III Stakes which alone earned the connections Aus$3,060,000. He also won a Gr 2 on Ceolwulf and had three Gr 3 wins on others horses and also won one other big money feature. He is based in New South Wales and hasn’t had a winner yet in seven rides this season.
Heavelon van der Hoven did well last season with 31 wins at a strike rate of 11.6% for earnings of Aus$1,327,575. He was battling in Cape Town at one stage, although he did take home one of the biggest riding cheques in South African history when winning the 2016 CTS Million Dollar on the Glen Puller-trained Illuminator having got the ride only on the morning of the race thanks to a sore back causing Weichong to book off. Heavelon earned a cheque of about R630,000 for that chance ride. He is currently based in New South Wales. He has had one win in eight rides this season.
Brandon Lerena is based in Brisbane in Queensland and had 31 wins at 13% last season for earnings of $914,885. He has had two wins in 16 rides this season.
Karl Zechner, who famously won the SA Triple Crown on Abashiri, had 30 wins at a strike rate of 8.3% last season for earnings of Aus$866,185. He is based in Queensland and has had two wins in 19 rides so far this season.
Donovan Dillon, based in New South Wales, has been in Australia since June 2022 but his first ride as a permanent resident in Australia was only on January 2 this year and he accumulated 29 wins in the seven months that were remaining of the season and did it at a decent strike rate of 12% for overall earnings of Aus$964,700. Donovan previously rode exclusively for the small racing yard at the famous Arrowfield stud farm where he was based and rides were few and far between and he was also out for a long time with a serious thigh injury. He can now look forward to a full season and has made a fine start to the 2025/2026 season as he has already had three wins in 12 starts at a strike rate of 25%.
Jaden Lloyd, the older son of Jeff Lloyd, had 27 wins last season at 11.7% for earnings of Aus$1,279,570. He is also based in Queensland and has had one win in eleven rides this season.
Mark Du Plessis had 22 wins last season at a 7.2% strike rate for earnings of Aus$1,568,175. He is based in Queensland and hasn’t ridden since a nasty fall at Ipswich on July 3.
Callan Murray had 19 wins at 7.4% last season in Australia for earnings of Aus$766,555 before returning to South Africa. That was a good decision as his career has taken off again out here and he has already added three more Gr 1 victories to his CV in the three months he has been back.
Denicious Smith had 8 wins last season at a 3.8% strike rate for earnings of Au$186,480. He is based in Queensland and has had one win in seven rides so far this season.
Chris Taylor had seven wins last season at a 10.8% strike rate for earnings of Aus$116,362. He is based in Queensland and has only had two rides this season for one third.
Lyle Hewitson had three rides in Australia last season during the Hong Kong off season and had three wins at 11.5% for earnings of $104,890.
Marnu Potgieter rode in some workriders races in South Africa, making his debut at the Vaal in December 2012. He had 42 rides in Australia last season for three wins at 7.1% for earnings of Aus$173,010. He was based in Queensland and has not had a ride since October last year.
Teaque Gould only had 14 rides in Australia last season, but had two wins for a strike rate of 14.3% and earnings of Aus$48,035, so hopefully he gets more chances this season. He is based in New South Wales and has not had a ride this season yet.
Donovan Yeo had one win in Australia last season in 18 rides at 5.6% for earnings of Aus$50,400. He is based in New South Wales and has not returned a win in two rides this season.
