Andrew Fortune after winning the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint last season on Tenango (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Grant van Niekerk was announced as the rider of the Roy Magner-trained Olivia’s Way at the Betway Summer Cup final field and draw ceremony on Wednesday, but without reasons having been given Andrew Fortune has now taken over the ride.
Fortune will also ride the Magner-trained Melech in the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants over 1160m.
Fortune is yet to win any of South Africa’s traditional three biggest races i.e. the Hollywoodbets Durban July, the WSB Met and the Betway Summer Cup, and Olivia’s Way is a 25/1 shot with the sponsor to end that statistic.
Olivia’s Way is by Pathfork out of Australian-bred War Pass mare My Lovely.
My Lovely’s only win was over 2000m.
Olivia’s Way is known for her resolute finish and she enjoys testing going.
Her five career wins include the Gr 3 TAB Igugu Stakes over the 2000m course and distance of the Summer Cup and it was run in soft going.
She could be one of the dark horses.
If able to find cover from a draw of nine she should be running on strongly in the sublime hands of Fortune.
