Lloyd To Go After Double In Return

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday December 31, 2008

By CHRIS ROOTS

JOCKEY Jeff Lloyd will look to return with a bang by completing the Tattersalls Club Cup-Carrington Stakes double with Kettledrum and Hairy at Randwick tomorrow.

The South African hasn't ridden since being concussed in a December 10 fall which also sidelined Blake Shinn (broken wrist) and Peter Robl (fractured vertebra) and resulted in Hugh Bowman being suspended.

"I only got back to trackwork this (yesterday) morning and rode nine, but I'm keen to get back to riding," Lloyd said.

"The doctors have cleared me and I'm keen to get back because I have a few nice rides.

"It would be nice if I could knock off just one of the big races after the break."

Lloyd will team with David Payne to try to keep the South African run going after their cricket team's Test series win.

Kettledrum has been given two runs by Payne to tune up for the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup (2000m) and should be at his peak.

He was third to My Sweet Cookie over 1400m first-up before being trapped wide as favourite when fifth to Predominance over 2000m at Rosehill on December 13.

"He didn't have a lot of luck last start and this time he has a good barrier," Lloyd said.

"He has always showed a lot of potential and this is the sort of race he is more than capable of winning."

Smart sprinter Hairy resumed in the Listed Carrington Stakes and given a good first-up record of four starts for two wins and two placings, Lloyd is happy to be back in time to ride her.

The Fuji Kiseki five-year-old won the Sheraco Stakes in her first preparation with Payne and saves her best runs for early in her campaigns.

"She's very good fresh and will just need a bit of speed on to be in the finish," Lloyd said.

"The barrier (two) means she will get a good run and she'll be charging home."

He will also be reunited with Montelimar, who he fell from at Rosehill, with Madibagold and Taysman his other rides.

While Lloyd was cleared to ride, Robl and Shinn were not so lucky.

Robl is likely to remain in a neck brace for another six weeks while Shinn still has another few weeks' recuperation.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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