Fradd takes advantage of Dye's absence to notch up a treble

'I still don't think people appreciate what an incredible trainer John Size is'

It was just like old times at Happy Valley last night as former Hong Kong champion jockey Robbie Fradd took his opportunities and ran with them to score a treble and go within a whisker of four wins.

With Shane Dye taking up the offer to ride well-favoured Frightening in the Melbourne Cup yesterday in Australia, Fradd was handed the 'stand-in' role as stable jockey for John Size and rewarded the trainer with wins on Ricardo and Mighty Hugo.

In between, he jumped onto Shining Dragon in place of the suspended Wendyll Woods and landed him too for Wendyll's brother, Sean.

While Fradd has ridden his share of winners since returning to the saddle from a six-month exile last year following ICAC Operation Greengrass, the trebles and four timers that once typified his nights out at Happy Valley have been absent. 'I have to thank John Size and Sean Woods for the great faith they've shown in me,' Fradd said after bringing home Mighty Hugo in the last event to the glee of favourite backers. 'When Shane made the decision to go to Melbourne, John just said I could ride all of his runners.'

Fradd wound up being the stable representative at the meeting, with Size absent after suffering from kidney stones on Monday, but his influence was still there in a training double and Fradd shook his head in amazement as he reflected on the ability of the trainer.