A social visit to Hong Kong last weekend provided jockey Robbie Fradd with the surprise of being offered the ride on the Caspar Fownes-trained The Duke in the HK$13.9 million Yasuda Kinen in Japan on June 3.
The former premier jockey took time out from his riding contract in Singapore to catch up with friends and came away with the opportunity to emulate his success on the great Fairy King Prawn in Tokyo in 2000.
'I was shocked to be offered the ride,' Fradd said at Kranji trackwork yesterday morning. 'But what a great opportunity to be able to go back to Japan and try to win the Yasuda Kinen again.
'It was very kind of Caspar and the connections of The Duke to give me this chance and he's not without a chance on the way he has been going of late.'
Fradd (pictured) is no stranger to The Duke, having ridden the Danehill gelding on four occasions for a win and two placings, including a victory in the 2004 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile trial, followed by a third in the Mile itself behind Godolphin's Firebreak.
'He's a terrific old horse and you know he will go over to Japan and give his best, as always,' Fradd said.
Fradd has wasted little time in establishing himself in the top echelon of riders in Singapore with 25 winners from only 130 rides. He sits in second place on the premiership ladder behind Australian Noel Callow, who will also make the trip to Japan to ride the John Moore-trained Able One.
