He’s easing himself into his new career as a mentor for leading Queensland-based jockey Angela Jones, below, and news this week of another up and coming talent being added to his roster- Melea Castle.
Putting aside his successful double bypass heart surgery around a month ago that called time on Robbie Fradd’s career in the saddle, it was very probably his body telling the world class rider who’s enjoyed great international success to face the question, What now?
Leading Trainer Tony Gollan helped answer this by not thinking twice in recommending The Fraddster to help mentor Miss Jones.
Having ridden around the world and been Champion Hong Kong Jockey during the 1999-2000 season when he won the 2000 Yasuda Kinen aboard Fairy King Prawn while also building up a winning association with gallopers Keen Winner and the John Size trained Electronic Unicorn, it was perhaps time to use all his knowledge and life experiences to prepare the next generation of riders for what lies ahead.
It’s a rapidly changing landscape for horse racing and an exciting changing of the guard.
Nothing stays forever in anything and old days must make way for new ways to attract an entire new generation of racing fans including global brands and sponsors.
With her sponsorship appeal, Angela Jones, and Girl Power in horse racing very much to the fore and fast becoming the new face of horse racing, The Fraddster has a young talent who can only improve further under the tutelage of the champion South African rider’s tutelage.
Of course, as we all know, change is never easy to accept or embrace, especially for a 58 year old rider who’s known nothing other than horse racing.
This is his challenge and something he’ll no doubt grab with both hands, and no doubt see that we never stop learning, and how as one door closes another one opens.
One is never too old to learn.