“We think she is a superstar. She was our best 2yo of her season. This win today was straight off the sand. I’m proud to say that it’s another terrific training feat by my wife!”
The charismatic Andrew Fortune was chatting to the Sporting Post and referring to the Avontuur-bred 4yo Faeezahs Princess who won a smart race on debut at the Vaal on Thursday afternoon.
Following her famous Dad VAR’s retirement just a week earlier, the good looking bay was backed to the exclusion of the rest and won like a 4-10 shot in a time of 57,95 secs for the Vaal 1000m.
The winner is out of the well-performed Jet Master stakes winner, Jet Set Go.
Faeezahs Princess flies home under Aldo Domeyer (Pic – JC Photos)
The Ashley Fortune yard was back in the winner’s enclosure in the second race when Ryan Munger booted home the Beaumont Stud-bred filly Rozara. The daughter of Wylie Hall was winning at the third time of asking and her victory marked four winners in two meetings for the Fortune yard.
The Vaal first race was also an injury return strike for the former SA Champion jockey’s son, Aldo Domeyer. The Drakenstein-sponsored rider was on the sidelines for months with an injured thumb and will be pleased to have made such an auspicious return to the saddle.
“You know this filly is bloody good. But when they are so fast, the wheels can come off. She is back at the knee but so well-bred. So she was worth all the patience by the owners and the dedication by my wife. You know, it is good stories like these that make racing worthwhile and satisfying after the work and money that goes in,” adds Andrew as he says that Faeezahs Princess was one of their picks at the National Yearling Sale.
“Ashley and I usually need to both like a horse before we buy. Pippa Mickleburgh always breeds a nice horse and the filly was a tick in both our catalogues. That said, she wasn’t cheap at R260 000 two years ago. But she has a future, if we can look after her. Aldo suggested we wait for the rain. It’s a bit hard out there for her right now.”
Andrew says that Faeezahs Princess is named after part owner Faizal Vahab’s daughter.
“Faizal is a soldier and always gets involved. As do his partners Deon Anthony and Mario Wilken. Big or small shares, these kind of owners are worth gold to the industry. We are happy that she rewarded them first time out.”
On Saturday Ashley Fortune saddles the progressive Gr1-placed Bard Of Avon in the R400 000 BSA Sales Cup.
Another of VAR’s offspring, the Ridgemont Highlands-bred gelding won the KZN equivalent of the series and looks well poised for another big payday.
“His work has been good. He is ready,” says Andrew in closing.
