Veteran jockey Jeff Lloyd stands firm in tight premiership race with Flamboyer perfection

THE connections of consistent galloper Flamboyer reckon ageless jockey Jeff Lloyd simply doesn’t feel any nerves.

Jeff Lloyd guides Flamboyer to a powerful win in the Glasshouse Handicap on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

THE connections of consistent galloper Flamboyer reckon ageless jockey Jeff Lloyd simply doesn’t feel any nerves.

The former South African hoop extended his lead in the Brisbane jockeys’ premiership when he piloted Flamboyer to a tough win in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap.

Gold Coast trainer Kelly Doughty and her husband Gary were delighted they had opted to back up Flamboyer from the previous week, rather than send him to Grafton for a crack at the Ramornie the following week.

And they were full of praise for Lloyd who has a slender lead in the jockeys’ premiership in a three-way tussle with Jim Byrne and apprentice James Orman.

“I don’t reckon he feels any nerves at all ... he certainly has nerves of steel,” Gary Doughty said.

“He is a terrific rider and he probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

“There are younger jockeys around but when you put Jeff Lloyd on a horse, you know he is going to give you a good ride.”

Six-time South African champion jockey Lloyd is not only an elite jockey but also a medical marvel.

The veteran hoop, who had ridden almost 5000 winners around the world including 93 Group 1s, collapsed after suffering a stroke in 2013.

Despite the stroke, Lloyd was determined to ride again once it became clear he had no permanent damage.

And he has come back with a bang.

“It is certainly a goal to win the jockeys’ title,” Lloyd said.

“I keep a pretty good eye on the count and how many winners I have ridden.”

South African Jeff Lloyd shows why he has been named champion jockey in his former homeland six times.

Cover Girl heading southern parade

KELLY Schweida is keen to shoot for the stars with Tatt’s Tiara winner Miss Cover Girl and take her to Melbourne for the Group 1 Myer Classic.

Miss Cover Girl, who was passed in at a 2013 Magic Millions yearling sale, could also target some rich races in Sydney next autumn.

“She is spelling at the moment but the logical option is to bring her back for the Myer,” Schweida said.

“The Magic Millions races are also really up her alley and they are all million-dollar races.

“Even the Sydney Autumn could be on the cards because she likes Randwick and it’s normally wet there.

“You run the Tatt’s Tiara a lot of times and maybe get a different winner on a drier track, but everything went well for her on the day.”

Schweida enjoyed a great week celebrating the success of Miss Cover Girl but was left disappointed when Outraged ran fifth in a 1600m Handicap on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

The favourite never got a clear run in the straight, in the race won by My Quilter, but may still head towards the Townsville Cup on July 30.

“He likes to get to the outside and every time he went to get out there, another horse got in his way,” Schweida said.

“Once you stop his momentum his race is over, and we never had the opportunity to get him going down the outside.”

@dorries_cmail

Originally published as Veteran jockey Jeff Lloyd stands firm in tight premiership race with Flamboyer perfection