POPULAR six-time South African champion jockey Jeff Lloyd has suffered an apparently life-threatening blood clot in Australia.

The 50-year-old Lloyd was admitted to Pindara Private Hospital in Queensland on the Australian Gold Coast.

His wife Nicola issued the following message to his fans and friends all over the world:

“For those of you that are worried, I just wanted to let you know that Jeff is in hospital, after having a ‘bad turn’ and being stood down from riding on Thursday. He saw a doctor and had a cat scan on Friday. The results were not good and he has been hospitalised for further testing. We will know more after the advanced MRI scan. We are praying to our Lord for some good news and a speedy recovery for the love of my life and the most inspirational man I know.”

Lloyd, who quit Hong Kong last year to continue his riding career in Queensland, represented South Africa in the International Jockeys Challenges held in 2012.

The jockey, who has won more than 4,500 races in a brilliant career, is currently based on the Gold Coast and lives at Hope Island.

He has won 90 Group 1 races and more than 200 Group 2 and Group 3 races, with his Group victories coming in South Africa, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. He has competed in nine countries – Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Germany and Mauritius.

He is the winner of six South African jockeys titles, as well five in Mauritius, and has ridden seven winners at a meeting on three occasions.

He finished in the top 10 in his only two full seasons riding in Hong Kong and fourth in his only full season in Sydney. – Sporting Post.