Apprentice jockey Jaden Lloyd reveals new approach and season aim

Queensland apprentice jockey Jaden Lloyd has taken a refreshed and rejuvenated approach to his return to racing, and it’s paying off.

Jockey Jaden Lloyd after winning race one with New York Gal at Clifford Park, Saturday, October 22, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Apprentice hoop Jaden Lloyd is looking to continue his hot run of Queensland form following a refreshed and rejuvenated approach to the season.

The 20-year-old currently sits in second place on the metropolitan apprentice standings despite having 134 less starts than first place, Angela Jones.

In 2021-22 Lloyd battled alongside Kyle Wilson-Taylor for the apprentice title before picking up a five week suspension in July and opting to take a further two months away from race riding.

Since resuming on October 19, the son of champion jockey Jeff Lloyd and older brother to Godolphin apprentice Zac, is striking with a 30 per cent win and 52.5 per cent place rate at Doomben and a 17.9 per cent win and 28.6 per cent place rate at the Sunshine Coast.

“Things are going quite well at the moment,” Lloyd said.

“I’m getting good support, it obviously gets a bit harder now at this time of year with owners wanting the bigger name jockeys but I’ve just got to keep battling away and hopefully prove that I’m up to that level.”

Jeff Lloyd with sons Zac (left) and Jaden after winning the Brisbane Jockeys' Premiership. Picture: Trackside Photography.

Lloyd said seeing the success of his brother Zac in New South Wales and the support from his father Jeff was a driving factor of his success.

“Zac’s hit the ground running, has picked up some suspensions but he’s going really well which is great to see,” Lloyd said.

“I speak to dad before and after every race meet as we go through my rides, he kind of goes through how he would ride them and I just try to listen.

“Then after the race he tells me what I can work on or what I did well so he really is a great help to me and my brother and I don’t think we’d be doing as well as we are without him.”

Jockey Jaden Lloyd rode the John Symons (right) and Sheila Laxon (left)-trained Dealing's Done to victory in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1100m) at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday, June 26, 2022. Picture: Greg Irvine, Magic Millions.

Lloyd said he hoped to continue his solid momentum for the remainder of the season.

“It’s great to be riding for loyal stables like John (Symons) and Sheila (Laxon) and for my bosses Steven (O’Dea) and Matt (Hoysted) who have been great to me,” he said.

“They’ve given me some great opportunities on some good horses in good races even though I’m an apprentice so can’t thank them enough.

“I’ve just got to keep showing up and hopefully I can squeeze into one of those nicer races at some point in the carnival.”