The fate of punters at Ballina on Friday lies in the hands of leading Queensland jockey Jeff Lloyd.
Lloyd has had the Brisbane jockeys' premiership sewn up with 137 winners, trails Western Australian champion William Pike by eight winners for leading riding honours nationwide.
Lloyd has a great chance to put a significant dent in Pike's lead on Friday with the bookies assessment of his chances on Friday hard to disagree with.
Lloyd kicks off the day riding Toby Edmonds-trained horses in the first two races.
Dream Master will be at short odds in the Ballina Cup September 7 3YO Maiden (1255m) and the son of Dream Ahead gets his chance to win a race after finishing runner-up at the Gold Coast over 1400m last start enduring a wide run in transit.
Dream Master just needs even luck in running from a double-figure barrier on Friday to be breaking his maiden status.
Early betting suggests Whypeeo from the Edmonds stable will take plenty of beating on debut when he lines up in the Fat Albert At The Ballina Cup 2YO Maiden Plate (1005m).
Whypeeo is into odds-on on the back of a Gold Coast trial win and wouldn't need to be anything special to handle Friday's line up.
Lloyd rides Acutum for Barry Baldwin in the Round Mountain Girls @ Slipway Hotel Maiden Handicap (1005m).
Acutum resumes without a trial but was placed at Eagle Farm and Lismore in his two runs before the break and would only need to be close to right to get the money on Friday.
The Matthew Dunn-trained Never So Sirius is another favourite with Lloyd in the saddle and will take plenty of holding out in the Rob Ward Electrical Class 1 Handicap (1255m) after an impressive maiden win at the Gold Coast resuming last start.
Lloyd's remaining ride is for trainer Helen Page and although not favourite, Star Stiletto will be prominent in betting for the Furnaces @ Aquis Farm Ballina Sprint (1005m) and is a winning chance down in the weights.
