Lloyd almost certainly secures title
Jeff Lloyd has virtually assured he will become the oldest jockey to win the Brisbane premiership with a double at Eagle Farm.
The 55-year-old went to the season’s penultimate meeting on Wednesday 4-1/2 winners clear of Jim Byrne who ride one on the day.
Reigning titleholder Byrne would have to ride a career best six winners at Doomben on Saturday to take the title.
Tegan Harrison rode her 50th metropolitan winner and 97th overall for the season on Old Smokey ($4.40) which has her on course to ride 100 overall winners for a second time.
“I rode more than a 100 a couple of years ago but this is my best metropolitan season,” Harrison, who will finish fourth in the metropolitan title, said.
Wednesday’s meeting was also a triumph for trainer Kelso Wood and four-year-old mare Abracadash who lived up to her $.195 favouritism in the Class four 1200m-sprint.
Wood said it was a miracle Abracadash was racing after she fractured splint bone in her near fore leg and subsequently got an infection as a three-year-old.
“She was off the scene for 14 months and spent a good deal of that time at the Gatton vet’s hospital,” Wood said.
“Now she is back in form I will look for better class races on a Saturday. But I am most happy for the owners who have stuck by her.”