Former champ Fradd is back, but just for today
Former Hong Kong champion Robbie Fradd has had to make do with a lukewarm response as he makes a cameo reappearance at Sha Tin today with his best support from the David Hall stable.
Hall always supported Fradd well before the 1999-2000 champion departed to make his base in Singapore, where he is now firmly ensconced as one of the top riders.
And it is Hall who has given Fradd three of his seven rides today, and his best winning chance is the enigmatic Cheeky Lad (race two).
Cheeky Lad went poorly up the straight last time, but his run for second to Floral Joy II prior was good enough to win this race, and the way the gelding's form goes so regularly in and out these days he is probably due a good one.
Fradd also takes the rides aboard the Hall-trained Namjong Fighters (race seven) and Encosta Don (race eight).
The reason for Fradd's one-off appearance is the Dubai meeting, with Darren Beadman not returning for today's fixture, and Gerald Mosse and Brett Prebble taking a flight after the finish of racing at Nad al Sheba last night but unable to get back to Sha Tin until the second half of the card.
Prebble will be back in time for a small but select book in the last six events, with Lucky Money Star the overnight favourite for race five, Mission (race six), Brilliant Chapter (race seven) and Galen Win (race 11) all expected to be among the chances, while Fantastic Dancer has a knockout chance for the Australian in the CUHK Cup (race nine).
