Former champion jockey Robbie Fradd told a race-fixing trial yesterday he had restrained his mount during a race to avoid it running out of energy, describing it as a tactical decision.
The South African rider testified after Deputy Judge Colin Mackintosh ruled in the District Court that he had a case to answer to the charge of cheating at gambling.
Fradd said it was impossible to let his mount, Winning Dragon, run as fast as it could and it was necessary to hold it back.
He also said he did not want to run on the heels of the horses in front as it would be dangerous.
Answering criticism from prosecution expert witness New Zealander Gavin John Whiterod, who said Winning Dragon should have filled in the gap behind the leading horse, the jockey said: 'It would definitely have been wrong if I had done that.'
The prosecution alleges Fradd, 37, won money for himself or 'any other person unascertained' connected with placing bets with the Hong Kong Jockey Club on the outcome of the race on the night of January 16. Fradd denies one count of cheating at gambling.
He was arrested in February along with 20 others on suspicion of race-fixing.