Jaden Lloyd, the son of Jeff Lloyd, champion jockey here and Australia, rode his first set of official trials at Tatura in Victoria, Australia, this week – and said in a television interview he was determined to follow in his father’s footsteps.
The Lloyd family at Greyville last year – Jaden is on far right in SAJA blazer (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
The www.racing.com site reports that Jaden, 17, spent last year at the SA Jockey Academy at Summerveld – at the insistence of his father, who believed the discipline and educational environment at the KwaZulu-Natal institution was vitally important in the development of a young rider.
Jaden has joined the Lindsay Park training establishment of the Hayes family and was inducted into Racing Victoria’s Apprentice Jockey Training Programme in March.
The young Lloyd said he initially aspired to be a racehorse trainer as he thought he would grow too heavy. “But at about age 14 I thought I might as well give this jockey thing a go.
“I didn’t go down the traditional route with ponies or anything, I basically just learnt how to become a jockey. I rode trackwork for Toby Edmonds on the Gold Coast and that’s where I first rode thoroughbreds.I’ve been at Lindsay Park for about four months now and I’ve loved it, they’re a class act and I’m trying to learn as much as I can. To be a champion is what I’m here for and I’ll do the best I can.”
Lloyd is required to ride in at least 20 official trials before applying to Racing Victoria’s Apprentice Skills Panel for his racing licence.
