Jaden Lloyd will be hoping to extend his lead in the Queensland apprentice jockeys' standings at Doomben on Saturday, when he partners Tramonto in the final race of the day.
The young jockey currently has 29 metropolitan winners to his name in the 2021/22 racing season, just 1.5 wins ahead of Kyle Wilson-Taylor, and he is confident that he can add another winner to his tally this weekend.
Lloyd will partner Jonny Field's four-year-old Tramonto in a Class 6 where he is currently the +200 favourite ahead of the in-form Kingston's Here (+230), who is looking to win his fourth consecutive race.
Tramonto was last seen in Sydney in the Silver Eagle, where he pulled up quickly after leading throughout in the 1300m event.
During his latest campaign, the son of Wandjina contested some very nice races in Queensland, including a narrow defeat to Desert Lord in the Listed Goldmarket Handicap (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
“He's a very nice horse – he's a grade three roarer, so he needs a bit of speed on in his races,” Lloyd told HorseBetting.
“That's what happened last start when he got beat – they went too slow and he wanted to pull too hard, and then he choked himself down.
“There looks to be good speed here, so he should be right in it and he's got good fresh form.
“I'm absolutely rapt and he's drawn a nice gate as well, so there's a lot of ticks there.”
In Tramonto's first-up run in the winter, he proved too good for Contemptuous over 1050m at Doomben, which looks good enough form for a race like this given how well the aforementioned galloper has gone since.
Drawn barrier six, Lloyd will look to be positive out of the gates in a bid to make his main rival work for a position from outside him in barrier seven.
“We'll roll forward,” the jockey said.
“I'd love to stay one off the fence if I could. He's a big galloper and I think the more room he has, the better.
“I wouldn't want to be pushing to the fence and then they slow up or something like that, so if I could stay one off, that would be ideal and keep Kingston's Here three-wide.”
It is an exciting time for Lloyd at present as he gets set for a move to Brisbane, where he will be apprenticed to the in-form Steven O'Dea & Matthew Hoysted stable.
Lloyd has called the Gold Coast home for the past six years, where he has predominantly worked for Maryann Brosnan.
The move to Queensland's capital city is one that the 20-year-old is very much looking forward to, especially with the Brisbane Winter Carnival on the horizon.
“He's (O'Dea) been trying to get me for a while, but obviously Maryann was a great boss to me and I didn't really want to leave her,” the jockey said.
“I think I got convinced at the end of the day.
“We're obviously only two months away from carnival time, so you want to try and get your name out there for bigger yards to have a go at the bigger races.
“I'm very much thankful for the opportunity and looking forward to it.”
Lloyd has been riding consistently for the O'Dea & Hoysted yard over the past few months, with the combination teaming up with Rich Lister, who won at Doomben in fine style last Saturday.
While he is leading the Queensland Apprentice Metropolitan Jockeys' Premiership, Lloyd sits third in the overall Queensland Metropolitan Jockeys' Premiership, behind Jim Byrne and Ryan Maloney.