Fradd gets a Lloyd leg-up
Old jockey rivals unite to become the dynamic duo
JOCKEY Robbie Fradd is enjoying a hot streak as he and his old adversary Jeff Lloyd go about teaching the young guns a thing or two in a blossoming new partnership.
Lloyd recently took up the management of Fradd after the pair spent many years competing against each other on the track in a number of countries.
Fradd, 55, has wound back the clock in November, riding a treble at the Sunshine Coast last Friday, a double at Doomben the next day and a winner from his only ride at Ipswich on Wednesday.
Fradd at one time was in the same stable as Lloyd being managed by Cameron Partington before joining the Glen Courtney team.
He said he had no issue with Courtney but wanted someone to more specifically concentrate on his rides and that’s when he approached fellow Gold Coaster Lloyd.
Lloyd took on the management of Sean Cormack some time ago, keen to see him secure more opportunities and he had no hesitation accepting the Fradd offer.
“I needed someone to concentrate on myself and Jeff is very good with his form and does track work as well,” Fradd said. “It’s only been a short time but he has been very good at picking rides for me.”
Lloyd managed his own rides for the past couple of years before retiring, priding himself on judging where horses can improve or are ready to win.
“He’s very good. He studies a lot,” Fradd said. “We can go through the race together, discuss certain things, work out how we expect it to be run.
“Jeff rides work for Toby and Trent ( Edmonds) most morning mornings and I go there on Tuesd Tuesdays.
“It does help. We will gallop some together, other times he will work it out and let me know. He loves it.”
Fradd says the ch change has put a real spring in his step. “I’m getting rides from peopl people I’ve never got rides from before and winning on them,” he said. “He’s done extremely well for me.”
Fradd has a good association with the Gold Coast stable of Toby and Trent Edmonds, highlighted by this year’s Stradbroke with Tyzone, and the combination has linked for three winners over the past two Saturdays.
They combine again on Saturday with Grey Missile in the Mooloolaba Cup.
“I think the mile on the bigger track will suit him because he will be in the first two where he likes to be,” Fradd said.