It is just under six weeks since Andrew Fortune made his much publicized return to race riding.
The 57 year old upped his comeback game to the next level at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on a sunny Wednesday afternoon with a treble to silence any of the diminishing group of detractors that weren’t too pleased to see him back in the riding ranks.
Andrew Fortune explains the situation to MJ Byleveld (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
After a quiet start on Classic Day, 1 March at Turffontein, it took the Candyman 6 rides to boot Var Park home at the Vaal on 6 March – all of 2814 days after piloting Hyperactive to victory for Gokhan Terzi at the same venue on 22 June 2017.
Since then he has amassed 13 winners at a strike-rate of 17,11 %, with only Fairview and Hollywoodbets Durbanville missing from his new generation CV.
There is no question that the former SA champion is a rare talent and the bonus of his entertaining post-race interviews added plenty of value to the midweek meeting, as he took his tally to 5 winners in two racemeetings after his Vaal Tuesday double.
Fortune opened his account on Wednesday when getting the 10-1 Justin Snaith-trained Match That up in the final stride to nab Muzi Yeni on the winner’s more experienced stablemate She’s My World in the 1000m Maiden Juvenile Plate first race.
In the seventh race, Fortune partnered recent maiden winner Kleinzee (10-1) for Candice Bass-Robinson, and it proved a similar ride as he settled the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight early, before cutting a path through the opposition to win unchallenged.
With Grant van Niekerk stood down for the day, the Candyman took a chance ride in the very next race on Wehaveasituation, a newsmaking recent maiden winner.
Getting the Master Of My Fate filly over from her 13 draw, he gave her every chance before hitting the front at the 250m to register his treble. The 4yo, who took 15 runs to find her first win, started at 8-1 in this solid post-maiden effort. Trainer Paddy Kruyer labelled it a ‘perfect ride’.
With seven rides at the Vaal on Thursday, Fortune can add to his tally before the long weekend.
Kabelo Matsunyane rode two winners on the afternoon for Brett & James Crawford, while Justin Snaith and Candice Bass-Robinson each saddled a double.
The next Cape racemeeting is on Easter Monday – start time 11h50, with the Gr3 Champagne Stakes heading the programme.
