Cherry Oh Baby (far side) is beaten on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly on May 7 this year and Andrew Fortune was subsequently charged by the NHA with a contravention of Rule 62.2.2 (to ride his horse in a competent and professional manner).
Andrew Fortune has won his appeal in the Cherry Oh Baby case.
The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained horse opened at 36/100 odds in a Maiden on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly on May 7 this year, but it was an open maiden (i.e. a handicap) and that price did not seem realistic considering she had to give 8kg to Long Street if a 4kg apprentice claim on the latter was included. Long Street had some decent form and Cherry Oh Baby duly drifted out to 11/10 shortly before the off.
It was Cherry Oh Baby’s fifth runner up finish in succession.
Nevertheless, an inquiry was opened into the ride by the NHA and a fierce debate among racegoers followed.
The inquiry was held on 23 June, although in the meantime Cherry Oh Baby had lost again at odds of 77/100 on June 4 with Callan Murray up before winning with first time blinkers on a week later with Murray up again.
The details of the inquiry and the outcome of the appeal are shown below:
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (“the NHA”) confirms that at an Inquiry held in Durban on Monday, 23 June 2025, Jockey Andrew Fortune was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.2, in that as the rider of CHERRY OH BABY, he failed to ride the horse in question in a competent and professional manner in Race 1 at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on 7 May 2025.
Jockey Fortune pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the charge.
After considering the evidence presented, the Inquiry Board imposed a sanction consisting of a suspension from riding in races for a period of twenty-eight (28) days, fourteen (14) of which were suspended for a period of one (1) year and the imposition of a fine of R20 000 (twenty thousand rand), of which R10 000 (ten thousand rand) was suspended for a period of one (1) year. The suspended penalties were conditional upon Jockey Fortune not being found guilty of a contravention of Rule 62.2.2 within the stipulated time frame.
Jockey Fortune has the right of appeal against both the finding and the sanction imposed, which he duly exercised.
Appeal Board Finding:
The Appeal was held at the offices of the NHA in Johannesburg on Monday, 13 October 2025.
The findings of the Appeal Board are as follows:
- The Appeal was upheld and the decision of the Inquiry Board was overturned; and
- The Appeal fee is to be refunded to Jockey Fortune.
Michael Shackleton
NHA Legal Advisor
