Jeff Lloyd suspended for 12 days

Premier Brisbane jockey Jeff Lloyd is free to ride Houtzen in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington despite a careless riding suspension.

Lloyd pleaded not guilty to the charge at Doomben on Saturday but was handed a 12-meeting ban.

His penalty begins after Saturday’s Flemington meeting.

Houtzen may well be joined in the Coolmore Stud Stakes by stablemate Eptimum with trainer Toby Edmonds considering options for Saturday’s Group Three winner at Moonee Valley.

Eptimum has won all three of his Victorian starts since Edmonds sent him south from his Gold Coast base to chase Vobis bonuses.

Houtzen finished seventh, little more than three lengths from the winner Redzel,in the $10 million Everest at Randwick at her most recent start on October 14.

Eptimum led all the way at Moonee Valley to beat the Gary Portelli-trained Single Bullet, winner of the Group Three Pago Pago Stakes in the autumn.