Doctor holds key to Lloyd in Stradbroke

CHAMPION jockey Jeff Lloyd will need a doctor’s clearance before riding Perast in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday.

Lloyd had two rides before he was stood down from his remaining ones at the Gold Coast meeting yesterday after telling stewards he was feeling unwell.

The Gold Coast-based jockey has been wasting to lose about 4kg to ride Perast at 50kg in the Stradbroke (1350m) at Doomben.

The Paul Perry-trained three-year-old is third favourite at $7.50 with Ladbrokes for the Stradbroke behind Champagne Cuddles ($4.20) and last year’s winner Impending ($6).

Chief steward Allan Reardon confirmed Corey Brown (Champagne Cuddles) and Brenton Avdulla (Invincible Gem) would be permitted to ride their mounts half a kilogram over in the Stradbroke in which they have 50kg and 51.5kg respectively.

“But we haven’t had an application from Jeff,” Reardon said.

“He can make an application on Thursday if he wants but I can’t indicate at this stage what would happen.”

Earlier on the Gold Coast meeting yesterday, Lloyd scored his 103rd metropolitan standard win of the season aboard Great Glen ($1.65) in a Class Six Plate (2200m).

Trainer Chris Waller’s Gold Coast stable may have found the key to Great Glen who won his first race since April last year.

Waller’s Gold Coast manager Paul Shailer said the horse had been expected to win sooner in Queensland but had been generally disappointing.

“He showed good staying form in NSW and won one of those Provincial Staying feature races at Hawkesbury,” Shailer said.

“But it has taken a good while to work him out. Today was his day where Jeff (Lloyd) was able to ride him perfectly taking the lead at the 900 metres and making it a true staying test.”