Getting off the mark at his first meeting in Singapore last Sunday was a good start for jockey Jaden Lloyd, but the icing on the cake would be a golden riding opportunity that came along shortly after.
The South African-born Australian hoop, who had been riding trackwork since late January, had six rides at his first meeting but only one of them, the Daniel Meagher-trained Pacific Beauty, had some support at $29 in the Class 5 race (1600m).
He duly got the job done, but little did the 22-year-old expect to receive the plum offer to ride last Sunday’s Group 3 Fortune Bowl (1400m) winner, Golden Monkey, in the Group 3 Committee’s Prize (1600m) on 9 March.
While his last-start winning partner and visiting jockey Chad Schofield is committed to ride Golden Monkey in the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m) on 21 April and the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) on 18 May, he had to sit out for the Committee’s Prize due to commitments in Sydney, hence connections reached out to Lloyd.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he would get a ‘live’ chance, like his father and former famous 18-time champion jockey Jeff who won the 2006 Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup on board the Pat Shaw-trained Mr Line, to win a Singapore Group race very soon.
“I was very surprised,” said Lloyd, who is coincidentally Schofield’s first cousin.
“(Trainer) Tim (Fitzsimmons) has been very supportive, but to offer me the ride on his best horse was a shock.
“I knew Chad was unavailable for the race (the Committee’s Prize), but to be asked to ride a horse like Golden Monkey in a Group race is an honour.”
For the Australian handler, his decision to book Lloyd on Golden Monkey was a simple one.
“Keeping it in the family,” quipped Fitzsimmons.
“It’s a good opportunity for him (Lloyd) and he will warm the seat for his cousin (Schofield).”
But with the Committee’s Prize still a few weeks away, Lloyd is working hard to keep up the momentum that started with his maiden Singapore win and has been booked on five rides this Saturday.
“To be honest, I had low expectations last Sunday,” said Lloyd, whose five-month riding contract in Singapore will run till 22 June.
“But I was grateful for six rides, one (Fame Star) in the Group race, and just wanted to give them all good rides.
“The winner (Pacific Beauty) was my best chance on paper and the race was run to suit. It was great to ride a winner for (trainer) Dan (Meagher) as my dad knew his dad (ex-Kranji trainer John Meagher). Dan had been very helpful since I arrived.
“The win obviously helped me to get rides this week. My phone was certainly ringing, but unfortunately a lot of them were in the same races this weekend, and I can only ride at 54kgs, so that limited my opportunities.
“But I have five (rides) this Saturday, which is great.
“Two for Tim (Gold Governor in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1400m and Ben’s Champion in the $20,000 Open Maiden over 1200m), two for (trainer) Ricardo (Le Grange) (Tony’s Love in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 2000m and Sayonara in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1400m) and one for (trainer) Stephen (Gray) (St Alwyn in the 30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1200m).
“I think there are definitely more solid rides overall than last week and I will try my best to give them all a fair chance.”
While knocking in an early winner in Singapore was a relief for Lloyd, he knew the experience of riding in other jurisdictions will be beneficial to him as a jockey, regardless of the results.
“It was great to get a winner but just to be riding and living in Singapore has been a big learning curve for me,” he said.
“I travelled a lot with dad when he was riding, but this is a new experience. Also, riding against international jockeys like Manoel (Nunes) and Vlad (Duric) teaches me a lot.
“It was tough not being able to ride for a few weeks (suspended for careless riding in Australia for three weeks before arriving) but guys like Ricardo really helped me learn the ropes and settle into Singapore and at the tracks.
“It’s definitely different to home (Queensland) but Ricardo, other trainers and jockeys had been really accommodating.”
For Le Grange, it was a pleasure to assist the ‘son of a South African gun’.
“I grew up watching ‘the Governor’ (Jeff Lloyd’s nickname),” said the South African trainer, who was an assistant-trainer to Shaw.
“I’m not sure if people outside of South Africa knew how good he (Jeff) was as a jockey, but he was easily the best and I know both Jeff and Nicola (wife) well.
“So, it was a pleasure to help out young Jaden and it’s great to have him riding here.
“He’s polite and has a great work ethic. From what I’ve seen so far, he sits (on a horse) very well, has good hands and is a patient rider. He will get opportunities here.
“I have him on two (rides) this week and other trainers like Tim and Daniel are looking after him as well.”
By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
