Princess Heads To KZN For Champions Season

With her Gauteng mission accomplished, Flower Alley daughter Princess Calla now transfers to Lorenzo Karriem in KwaZulu-Natal.

After starting out with just a handful of horses four years ago, Ashley Fortune has grown her operation to 90 horses.

On Saturday Princess Calla soared to victory in the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein on a momentous milestone day for the 40 year old Zim-born horsewoman.

 

We put it to Ashley that bidding farewell to the top filly just two months after her arrival, must be something of a blow.

“Not at all. Mario Ferreira’s operation runs on a  team basis. Princess Calla arrived here after the Prix Du Cap victory on 28 February with the Gr1 race on Saturday as her target. Now it’s time to raid the riches of the SA Champions Season. For that campaign she will be based with Lorenzo Karriem. He knows her well and has been doing so well since taking out his licence. He is very qualified to bring out the best in her!”

Looking back at Saturday, Ashley says that her feet have still not touched the ground after achieving her maiden Gr1 success in such short time.

“Now I know just a little bit of how Mike de Kock and Paul Peter and the other top guys feel, having a fancied Gr1 horse to prepare. I have had Gr1 runners. But Princess Calla was favourite. Public money was riding on her back. It was an adrenalin sort of pressure for me that is difficult to describe. A great feeling that I am sure I could get very used to,” she laughs.

Watch the race here:

We asked her how she felt when Princess Calla hit the front 400m out.

“Look,it’s a blur! We were shouting and screaming. My heart was in my throat. But Aldo was so confident and even though the 3yo Under Your Spell moved up to her, Calla blew her chest out, asserted her authority and was not for the beating. She is top-class!”

Ashley explained that from the day Princess Calla got off the float, she had a presence about her.

“She’s a madam. And she knows she’s good. But she is professional and has a great demeanour. She fell in love with our one-time winning gelding called West Point. They were inseperable , so we allowed him to travel with her to Turffontein on Saturday – as a companion.”

She says that the vibe at their yard had lifted visibly since Saturday.

“The staff have a pep in their step, everybody’s smiling. They will be having a nice braai on Friday to celebrate. I can’t stress how many people were involved to make this work. From the vets to the farriers to our staff, it was a terrific team effort that panned out so well. Aldo Domeyer had been up a few times to ride and on the day he rode her with confidence. Our team at home all did a great job. Ryan Munger and Chad Little rode the work when Aldo wasn’t here. I allocated Princess Calla to Tendai Kamhulnukamwe – an experienced horseman with an affinity for fillies. They bonded so well. Craig Mayhew and Kelsey Mayhew-Munger our assistants are so professional. And then thanks to Mario Ferreira and Des Gonsalves for their belief in us and to the lovely Princess Calla for bringing her A-game to the party. 23 April 2022 is a day I will remember forever!”

Ashley says that it was also a proud family moment. Aldo in fact rode her first ever winner too – in the Gr3 Gold Bowl on Champions Day!

“We were all very emotional and extremely thrilled. Aldo is a real professional and my husband Andrew is in the background directing matters. I think I would also like to give Charles Laird a mention. Whenever I need help, advice or guidance in the yard, I call him. Whether it’s at 22h00 at night or 06h00 in the morning. He is there with his years of experience and wisdom. And then, last but not least – Princess Charlene for the support and sponsorship. Racing needs more people like her!”

“Horses are my life and this is all I have ever wanted to do since my school days,” says Ashley, who recalls that when other kids were aspiring to be doctors, dentists and civil engineers, all she ever wanted was a job – any job – with horses.

“It’s tough economically but I am living my dream – something few people have the privilege of doing.

Ashley was born in Harare on 20 July 1981. She lived with her parents and a younger sister on a farm near a small town called Ruwa.`

Her Dad was a transport contractor and the facility allowed space to store the vehicles – but more importantly, horses too!

“We were horse crazy from an early age. I spent my life doing polocrosse. It gave me a great foundation for what I do today.”

She recalls modestly that she was an ‘okay’ student at Chisipite High School but couldn’t wait to spend more time with horses.

She lost her sister seventeen years ago and her folks are ‘just down the road’ in Parys. She tries to see them often as she can.

It was while working for champion trainer Noelene Peech in Zim that Ashley met the charming  South African jockey who was to change her life forever.

And now the Fortunes are training Gr1 winners!

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