Jack Milner
How dull has racing been in the last two months without Andrew Fortune?
Well, that is all going to end on Wednesday when the ebullient 58-year-old jockey takes two rides at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Fortune has set the racing world alight since returning to race riding and in particular since joining forces with Justin Snaith. He had an incredible run when winning two Grade 1 races, the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met with See It Again and the Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes with Double Grand Slam, and two other races on the card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 31 January.
However, shortly after that he was involved in a fall that resulted in six cracked ribs, a punctured lung, a fractured scapula and a broken collarbone.
Most people thought that would be the end of his riding career but as has been the case on so many occasions, Fortune has proven them wrong. Just seven weeks later he is ready to begin all over again.
“I broke everything,” he said on Sunday. “But I have done everything possible to get back quickly, especially spending time in a hyperbaric chamber.”
A hyperbaric chamber is a pressurised medical device that delivers 100% oxygen at higher-than-normal air pressure to promote healing and treat various medical conditions.
On 1 April Fortune returned to riding work and in fact, sprinted up the horses who recently won at Turffontein three days before they were sent to Joburg.
Fortune believes everything happens for a reason and feels his being out of action will help Craig Zackey in a couple of ways.
“I gave it a long thought,” he reflected. “Craig Zackey wants to go to Hong Kong and for that to happen it is important that he wins the jockeys’ championship as well as those two Grade 1 races that were Hong Kong World Pool events.
“I believe in letting life just float. He needed those two Group 1s more than I did. I love those horses and I helped him as much as I could.”
Zackey returned the compliment after winning the HKJC Premier’s Champion Stakes aboard See It Again. “I think Andrew’s made the biggest difference. I think this horse was lucky to find a guy like Andrew Fortune.
“I don’t think there’s a jockey in this country that can argue Andrew is the best horseman, no one comes close to him.”
Fortune says he is 90% ready right now but feels it was time to get going again. “I’m only taking two rides at this meeting and will build up. I still have a little bit of pain, 10% maybe, nothing I can’t handle
“My first big meeting will be on 2 May at Hollywoodbets Greyville.”
He is looking forward to the KwaZulu-Natal season where he will be hoping to ride one of Snaith’s top three-year-olds. “I’m looking at the filly, Wish List, and Note To Self in particular. Note To Self put up an outstanding gallop the other day, and the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 will be one of his missions.”
It comes as no surprise that there are people interested in making a movie about the fortunes and misfortunes of Andrew.
“They’re not there all the time but they do follow me around on certain days. Yesterday (Saturday) I spent the day with them. They had me running on the beach. I probably ran 5km for them to film just 100m.”
His wife, Ashley, who trained at the Vaal before leaving for Australia a few years back, has applied for trainer’s licence in Cape Town and could be back in business quite soon.
“She put in her application last week and she does have some people who will give her horses.”
And how long will his riding career continue?
“I got no idea. It will tell me when it comes. I have people who love me and care about me.
“I can’t think about retirement.”