By Ray Hickson
Jaden Lloyd says he’s up for the challenge of riding in Sydney and as much as he hopes he can make an immediate impact at Rosehill on Saturday he’s willing to start at the bottom and work his way up.
The older brother of champion apprentice Zac Lloyd has three rides at Rosehill, following a warm up with one ride at Bathurst on Anzac Day, having decided to cut short a stint in Singapore.
He’s ridden 234 winners so far and with the autumn carnival over he said the timing is right to make the move.
“I’ve just got back from Singapore and I thought I’d try and give Sydney a crack,’’ Lloyd said.
“There’s not enough racing over there for me, and my weight wasn’t going very well riding only once a week. But I enjoyed my time there and it’s all shutting down so it was a good time to come back.
“It’s obviously going to be very hard but I’m looking forward to the challenge and trying to get going as best I can and hopefully get a bit of luck.”
The 22-year-old is based at Warwick Farm and is being managed by his father, former champion jockey Jeff Lloyd. He said he’s making an effort to ride trackwork for as many trainers as possible both there and at Rosehill.
His biggest win came in last year’s Group 3 Winx Guineas on board Knight’s Choice, who he also rode in one of his rare Sydney visits in the $10 million Golden Eagle last spring.
He ventured to Bathurst to ride a $61 chance on Thursday, about as low key a start as you can get but an illustration that he’s willing to put in the work.
“I’m not expecting to come and be a city rider straight away, I’m happy to go smaller meetings and try to ride winners,’’ he said.
“I know it’s going to be hard. I’m fully committed to here, I’m not thinking about going back to Queensland.
“Unless you’re riding for Tony Gollan or the top stables it’s hard to get a look in.
“I was going to struggle to get the best rides in town there so I thought about coming here and trying something new. I want to make it here as best I can.”
Lloyd rides Wolves for Benjamin Smith in the Midway Handicap (1100m), Olympic Gaze for Paul Perry in the Phillip Picone Handicap (1500m) and Eastern Glow for Keith Dryden in the Luke Lucas Handicap (1300m).
He’ll be competing against his younger brother in two of those races and he said there’s always a healthy rivalry between them on the track.
“We’re very close and I’m always shouting for Zac and he’s always shouting for me but if we’re in the same race it’s game on,’’ he said.
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting