Lloyd after one last impressive statistic

Jockey Jeff Lloyd

Veteran jockey Jeff Lloyd can cap his imminent retirement bringing up yet another impressive statistic this week.

One more metropolitan win at Doomben on Wednesday or Saturday will be his 400th since returning to riding after suffering a stroke.

Lloyd, 58, missed nearly a year of riding when he was struck down by the stroke at the Caloundra races in 2013.

If he had retired then he would have still been rated among the best jockeys produced in South Africa having won Group One races in half a dozen countries.

However, since he made the decision to come back to riding in his statistics have been outstanding.

In the four seasons since returning Lloyd has ridden 560 overall winners in total including 399 in the Queensland metropolitan area.

In that time his mounts have earned a total of just under $22 million.

Lloyd had a light book of three rides at Doomben on Saturday and won on Handsome Thief.

He is determined Handsome Thief won’t go down in history as his last winner.

“I hope to have plenty of rides for my last day and then it will be on to a new chapter,” he said.

Lloyd announced his retirement a year ago without setting a time-frame.

His son Jaden has been accepted to Victoria’s apprentice program and Lloyd now wants to concentrate on being a mentor to him.