Racing: Homework priority for Fradd

Robbie Fradd spent last night watching videos - but none were from the best-seller list.

Homework, rather than rest, was Fradd's priority after the Hong Kong-based South African jockey arrived in Wellington yesterday.

Fradd, who has not been to New Zealand previously, is to ride the Southland filly Elena in the group one $300,000 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) for three-year-old fillies.

He will also ride Elena's stablemate Art Success in a 2200m maiden and Turtle Creek in the group three $50,000 weight-for-age Trentham Stakes (2400m).

Fradd, a rugby fan, yesterday walked the Trentham track and planned to spend the evening going over videos of Elena's previous races.

The 40-year-old might be something of an unknown quantity for local punters but any jockey who can win a premiership in Hong Kong ranks as a world class rider.

Fradd won the Hong Kong premiership in 2001 and has twice been the runner-up. He won five races on star galloper Fairy King Prawn, including the group one Yasuda Kinen in Japan, and was aboard the horse when just beaten by champion New Zealand mare Sunline in the Hong Kong Mile.

Fradd has also won a Hong Kong Derby and recorded a string of feature wins on Electronic Union.

The chance to ride at Trentham came out of the blue but he was quick to take up the offer.

Fradd, whose attitude to race riding can be gauged from the fact that his nickname is Ruthless Robbie, was also looking forward to a good night's sleep.

He rode in Hong Kong on Wednesday night, was up riding trackwork at 5am on Thursday and flew out of Hong Kong on Thursday afternoon, arriving in Wellington at 10.30am yesterday.

- NZPA