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Zeus by Claire Lloyd

Dark Bay Gelding 1984 by Tate Hanover 0ut of Alice Rose

Zeus was bred by George Bates in Manchester and it was he who prepared him for racing, but unfortunately George died before Zeus had a chance to race. He was bought by Bob Lloyd then of Llanshiver, Brilley in February 1988. Bob invited trainer Roy Wilson to come and look at him, Roy wasn't very impressed with the long coated, big eared, horse with big feet but he went up to Roy's stable at Llanbister to be trained.

His first race was with Wales & Border Counties at the Llanigon meeting on May 2nd 1988 which he won. That season he went on to have 14 more wins and graduated to the Grade B. It was during this first season that he won the Grade B at Penybont one of the premiere meetings of the year. In his second season he had five more wins and graduated to the Grade A. He was out with an injury in 1990 but was nursed back to health and continued in winning ways in 1991.

In 1992 Bob and Roy joined British Harness and Zeus although having a hard handicap still managed two wins one of which was at Tir Prince in 2.08. He continued to battle against a difficult handicap and because of this in September 1993 Bob sold him to Ray and Claire Lloyd from Kington. So once more he came to race with W & B C.

After the winter his first race was at Usk where he came second in his heat, and he continued winning heats and being placed in finals. Perhaps his biggest success that season was winning heat and final at Presteigne races where he also clocked up the fastest time of the day. The following week at Caersws he even surprised his owners by winning a heat off a handicap of 30 yards. He continued to be in the running on many more occasions that season.

1995 saw a continuation of his success with the local meeting at Almeley providing his supports with a memorable day. He had an electrifying burst off the gate and took a blazing and unassailable lead to win the heat comfortably. In the final again he shot off the gate and although the pack were in hard pursuit they failed to get within twenty yards at the finish line, and as a result he again took the fastest time of the day.

Zeus has continued to race in his usual "lead from the front" way. Even when being ridden out he always had to be the lead horse otherwise he would buck and perform until he was. He was a lovely horse to do never sick or sorry and would often neigh when seeing his stable companions whether on or off the track. Bob Lloyd said " I will never have another horse like him, every week he would go out and give it his best and nearly always he come home in the placings." He added "but it was Roy who deserves the credit for the horse when he was with me, I only bought him Roy made him"

Zeus' last race was at Ammanford where he went out in style and ran his hardest to take second in the heat followed by another second in the final. His present owners say "at the grand old age of 14 he has gone into a comfortable retirement, where no doubt he will make a fuss when his new stable companions go racing!" Zeus will be remembered for his whole hearted approach to racing.

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