Jeff Lloyd starts new adventure as jockey manager

Retired champion Jeff Lloyd has seamlessly moved into a new role, answering a call to become the jockey manager for a multiple Group 1-winning rider he has known for over 30 years.

• Smith tempts voters with slice of $5m pie
• Freedman in Orr of Ringer’s All-Star bid

Retired champion Jeff Lloyd has seamlessly moved into a new role, becoming jockey manager for multiple Group 1-winning rider Sean Cormack, building on a friendship that started in South Africa three decades ago.

Lloyd retired in July last year having won a fourth straight Queensland metropolitan jockey title. After retiring, he fielded a number of inquiries from jockeys asking him to manage them, but initially knocked back the offers on account of him enjoying retirement.

But when Cormack asked a second time, Lloyd had a change of heart.

Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >

Retired jockey Jeff Lloyd has found a new role to keep him involved in racing. Picture: AAP

“When he approached me the second time, it was at the Deagon trials. I had just started to feel I needed to do something and (jockey management) will motivate me,” Lloyd said.

“I’ve known Sean such a long time and I knew he would be frustrated that he wasn’t doing as well as he wanted to.”

Cormack won 14 Group 1 races in his homeland of South Africa and did an initial stint in Australia riding for the late Bruce McLachlan.

He returned to Queensland in 2018 but a knee injury soon after kept him sidelined for more than 10 months before returning in March last year.

“When he came here, he took time to get going, then he had that unfortunate fall on the way to the start, which put him out for so long,” Lloyd said. “Since the fall and he’s come back, it’s taken him a long time to get back to fitness and to where he thinks he’s riding well.”

Cormack rode five winners last week – including back-to-back Sunshine Coast doubles – and Lloyd thinks he’s now ready to show Australian punters the ability he showcased in South Africa.

“When Glyn Schofield left South Africa, Sean was offered the job with the leading trainer in Durban (Dennis Drier) and he also rode for the leading stable in Cape Town. He held those jobs for a long time and had a lot of success,” Lloyd said.

Sean Cormack has been in fine form this year. Picture: AAP

“It’s all well taking a top jockey, but this is more of a challenge for me to do Sean and I am loving it. Hopefully he carries on doing well.

“Winners bring confidence and the phone calls are starting to come in and he’s getting better offers.

“My job is to try and find him horses I think can improve on their form. You can’t just get winning rides for a jockey that hasn’t been riding winners. You have to find rides that you think can improve and keep that trainer happy, build up relationships.

“I can see he’s got a new lease on life because he can see I am working hard for him and I want to see him do well. There’s a bit more to it than just being his manager. He’s a good mate.”

While he is back talking to trainers again on Cormack’s behalf, Lloyd is very comfortable watching races from the sidelines these days.

“I’ve been very happy, I am not missing race riding,” he said. “I miss having your mates around you all the time and that’s why I still ride work and do a few trials, but I don’t miss race riding, so I know I gave up at the right time.”