Easy win for Lloyd before Mauritius ride

Blue Book, with premier jockey Jeff Lloyd aboard, has won easily in the two-year-old at Doomben.

Premier jockey Jeff Lloyd has warmed up for an international engagement in Mauritius by steering Blue Book to an easy win at Doomben.

Lloyd has won the past two Brisbane jockeys premierships and brought up his 36th winner for the new season on Saturday when Blue Book ($2.05) bounced straight to the lead to beat Miss Sarra ($8.50) by 1-1/4 lengths in the two-year-old handicap (1200m).

Lloyd and fellow South African Robbie Fradd leave this weekend for Mauritius to ride in an international jockey invitation race next weekend.

“I rode in Mauritius for four years but I haven’t been back for 13 years. I am really looking forward to catching up with old friends,” Lloyd said.

Fradd will return in time to ride in the Origin jockeys series in Brisbane on December 8 but Lloyd will miss the series.

“I am having a bit of a break after the Mauritius race and will miss the first day so I couldn’t compete at all,” Lloyd said.

He has a big opinion of Blue Book, who is unbeaten in two starts.

“When I first saw him I thought he was a big dopey bugger but he has just kept improving,” Lloyd said.

Trainer Kelly Doughty said Blue Book would probably have one more start this campaign before going for a spell.

“He isn’t a Magic Millions horses so there’s no need to rush him. I even rang up to see if there was a would card race for the Millions but there isn’t one for the two-year-old race,” she said.