Fortune hits Group 1 with Double Grand Slam

Danie Toerien

Double Grand Slam was one of the few favourites to find the winner's box on Durban July Day when she ran out a convincing winner of the Grade 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m under Andrew Fortune.

As usual, Fortune stole the show in his post-race interview.

"What did I tell you?" was the first words from Fortune even before interviewer Warren Lenferna had a chance to utter a word, "the Grade 1 is there."

"And people want to tell me there's no God. Six months ago - and the story just gets better and better - if I told you six months ago when I didn't even have a licence that I would be riding a Group 1 winner for Justin Snaith on July Day, they would have taken us to a mental institution, not just saying we're mental.

"For people who are not believers: look at my life and you will become a believer."

Lenferna not only congratulated Fortune on his victory, but for rising from the lowest depths to the highest Group 1 stage.

"I had little to do with that," responded Fortune. "I just turned up. Humans can't close doors that God has opened. It's amazing. A Group 1. At the age of 58."

According to Fortune the win wasn't easy, because he had three plans in his head.

"I was going to sit fourth or fifth, and then I had another plan, but she (Double Grand Slam) got left half a length. Then I said God, I'm on Plan C already.

"But just before we turned for home, I said to her, girl, wait. But she put her chest out and said fine, I must tell her when to go.

"I actually hit the front too early, but I was so excited and... but anyway. We won!"

It is Double Grand Slam's eighth career victory and second Grade1.