The race-fixing case against jockey Robbie Fradd should be thrown out because the prosecution had failed to prove a link between his horse's performance and any bet placed on the race, a court heard yesterday.
Defence counsel Kevin Egan, making an application for no case to answer, said there was no link in the prosecution's case between the way Fradd had ridden Winning Dragon and money staked on the outcome of the race.
Fradd is accused of pulling back his mount during a race in January so it would drop from second to third place. But yesterday, Mr Egan said Fradd had restrained the horse 'for tactical reasons' to avoid using up energy.
He said the prosecution was relying only on an expert witness' opinion that Fradd should not have restrained his horse.
Fradd, 37, denies one count of cheating at gambling.
He is alleged to have won money for himself or 'any other person unascertained' connected with placing of bets with the Hong Kong Jockey Club on the outcome of the race.