Lloyd laser focused in Queensland return

By Jordan Gerrans

Former boom apprentice Jaden Lloyd has returned to the Sunshine State with a renewed mental focus as he aims to establish himself as a senior rider.

After recent stints in Singapore and New South Wales, Lloyd has relocated back to Queensland in recent weeks and is residing on the Gold Coast.

The son of champion jockey Jeff Lloyd picked up his first winner back north of the border when He’s A Saint came from back in the field to land the Maiden Handicap over 1700 metres at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Lloyd famously went toe-to-toe with Kyle Wilson-Taylor for the apprentices' title in Brisbane during the 2021-22 season.

While Wilson-Taylor has won a Group 1 since and become a regular rider in feature events, Lloyd has ridden more so on the provincial circuit in NSW in recent times.

Former top apprentices often take some time to establish themselves before they become a senior city rider and the 23-year-old says he has his eyes on the prize in his Queensland return.

“I am more switched on to what I have to do now,” Lloyd said.

“I was a bit young when I was riding here last time and I probably took a lot of things for granted.

“I think now that I have gone away and come back, I think back then, I probably did not have the level of concentration that I do now.

“I am more focused on doing my form now and doing the right work. I now know what I have to do, so I am just trying to do that.

“I just need to get on the right horses, that is the hardest part.”

Lloyd played a key role in the fairytale Melbourne Cup path of Knight's Choice as he piloted the gelding to victory in the Group 3 Winx Guineas in July of 2023 at Caloundra. 

The older brother of leading Sydney hoop Zac Lloyd has been well-supported by the big barns since he landed back in Queensland.

He rode a winner for Tony and Maddysen Sears at Ipswich on Wednesday and has bookings for Bevan Laming, Barry Lockwood and Stuart Kendrick over the coming three days.

The now Gold Coast-based Maddysen was quick to praise Lloyd’s work ethic following He’s A Saint’s striking performance on Wednesday that handed him his first victory in four attempts.

“It is a credit to Jaden as he has galloped him a couple of times and has made the effort to get in there quite early,” Maddysen said.

“Jaden was confident he could win on Wednesday and I also was, as well.

“It is great to see Jaden get a winner back now in Queensland.”

Lloyd has a handful of bookings at the Gold Coast on Saturday, heads to Caloundra on Sunday before jumping across the border on Monday for one engagement at Grafton.

He is riding work for the Sears camp, Laming as well as the partnership of Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean on the Gold Coast.

Lloyd will also often head to Brisbane and ride some work for Lockwood and Robert Heathcote, among others.

“I eventually want to get back to town riding but I am not too focused on that right now,” he said.

“At the moment, I want to build relationships with trainers and go from there.

“I am trying to get my name back out there and ride some work at a few different stables at the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

“It was really good I was able to win on that horse on Wednesday as I have been doing a bit of work on him.

“It is an advantage when you know a horse well before you get on them on race day.”

Lloyd was quick to identify his ride for Lockwood in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap over 1015 metres at the Gold Coast on Saturday as his pick of his bookings for the weekend.

“Barry has put me on some nice horses so hopefully I can get the job done,” the hoop said.

“Barry is a great bloke and I have had a lot of luck with him over the years.

“It is good I have come back and he has put me on straight away. I galloped Bard Of Avon for Barry the other morning and he is a very good horse.

“I do not know if they are going to run him from the barrier but if he does run, I dare say he will be very hard to beat in a maiden.

“Even with the wide draw, if he runs, he should be too good for a race like this at the Gold Coast. He is a horse to watch, I think.”

Lloyd departed Singapore about a month before racing was closed in the area and spent almost a year riding across NSW.