International jockey Jeff Lloyd will stick with Gold Coast sprinter Startsmeup in the Listed $100,000 Winter Stakes at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

Jeff Lloyd will partner Startsmeup again in the Winter Stakes - photo © Daniel Costello

Lloyd won on the Gillian Heinrich trained four year old at Ipswich in Class 6 company over 1100m on Ipswich Cup Day and the Gold Coast trainer was happy to get the top jockey’s services again.

“That’s always a plus because Jeff rode him to win last start at Ipswich and also rode him in a trial last week,” Heinrich said.

“He’s pretty happy with him and was happy to come down.”

Lloyd had only recently given up Hong Kong racing and set up his base on the Gold Coast to ride predominately for John Thompson and Patinack Farm and was able ride Pear Tart for the huge racing operation to win the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 23.

The top jockey then made a dash to his native South Africa to try to win the Group 1 2200m Durban July at Greyville, a race that has eluded him in his illustrious career, but could only manage to finish third on Chesalon.

But Lloyd didn’t leave Greyville empty handed and was able to win the Group 1 1400m Golden Horseshoe for two year olds on War Horse and finished second  on Straight Set in the Group 1 1400m Durban Golden Slipper for two year old fillies.

Heinrich was forced to miss a run in the Listed $175,000 Reed Property Group Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on June 30 because of the heavy track and has kept his fitness up with a Doomben barrier trial second and a solid gallop at his Sydney base at Rosehill.

“The horse looks beautiful and is a lot more mature this time in,” Heinrich said.

“I was very happy with his gallop this morning. His blood is good. It’s all up to him and Jeff now.”