Jeff Lloyd produces Eagle Farm masterclass
Veteran Jeff Lloyd has shown he has no intention of giving up his Brisbane jockeys’ premiership with an Australian career-best riding effort of five winners in a day.
Lloyd won on Balboa Rocks ($5.50), Monsieur Gustave ($2), One Inch Punch ($2.20), Bound For Love ($2.25) and Man Of His Word ($2.80) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
He had ridden four winners in a day twice since he moved to Queensland in 2013 and once previously in Sydney but his best efforts were seven winners in a day on three occasions in his native South Africa.
The record for a jockey at a Brisbane metropolitan race meeting is six winners, posted by Mick Dittman on November 1, 1977.
But Lloyd became the 10th jockey to ride five winners in a day at Queensland city meeting, joining Bill Briscoe. Graham Cook, Jim Byrne, Gavan Duffy, Len Hill, Russel Maddock, Mike Pelling, Ivan Wernowski and Brian York.
Lloyd, 55, is the oldest jockey to win the Brisbane trainers’ premiership with 80 winners in 2015-16 and he has already ridden 20 this season.
“It is good have days like this but a lot of hard work by a lot of people goes into it,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd had to work especially hard on One Inch Punch who looked beaten several times before winning the Veuve Society Handicap in a photo finish.
“He doesn’t help you much. He didn’t step away cleanly and I had to ride him hard virtually the whole way,” Lloyd said.
One Inch Punch has won three races and more than $100,000 since joining trainer Toby Edmonds on the Gold Coast in June.
“I wish we could get a few more like him from Melbourne. He is very tough and will win a few more,” said stable foreman Trent Edmonds.
One Inch Punch was the first leg of a double for Edmonds who also trains Bound For Love.
“Jeff let us know on Tuesday he would get down to 52.5kg to ride Bound For Love and as always he was true to his word. He is a true professional,” Trent Edmonds said.