Andrew Fortunes completes a four-timer on Demanding Dave, a horse who could be going places (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Andrew Fortune quipped after riding a fourth win in succession at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday, “I walked in after the last one and said to the boys, I can only give riding lessons on Wednsdays, I’m just too busy.”
He was at his sublime best and his sequence of winners provided plenty of entertainment for interview watchers.
The Fortune show started in race 4 on the Ricky Maingard-trained One World filly Her World, who started at odds of 6/1. He got her into the box seat from pole position and in the straight kept her in the hands until the 250m mark and then under a strong drive she managed to overtake the pacemaker Rare Earth late to win by 0,30 lengths.
In race 5 he took the Glen Kotzen-trained Futura gelding Fast And Free into a handy position from draw six in a 2000m Open Maiden in which he was carry 60,5kg. The 5/1 shot traveled supremely throughout under Fortune’s sublime hands and in the straight he crept up ominously under the hands until being let go at the 200m mark, at which point he ricocheted away and looked to have it in the bag. However, Eric Liddel produced a storming finish to get within 0,40 lengths. The latter is also by Futura and looks like one to follow.
In race 6 over 1000m Fortune was on the Andre Nel-trained Canford Cliffs mare Pushing Limits who started at 6/1. From draw 7 h had the long-striding mare relaxed in behind the leading vanguard and she produced a strong finish under the hands to win by 0,40 lengths.
In race 7 he was aboard the Mike Stewart-trained Horizon gelding Demanding Dave, who was backed from 8/1 to 33/10. He was quite far back in the 1000m contest but produced a good burst under the hands and Fortune then got the necessary extra out of him in a tight three way finish to win by 0,30 lengths.
He went on to say that he believes Demanding Dave, who was a November 20 foal and who has now won three of his last four starts will go to the top.
Unfortunately, Fortune did not have a ride in the eighth race so could not make a bid to become the second jockey within week to ride the jackpot, Muzi Yeni having pulled off that feat on the Fairview poly last Friday.
There were doubles at the meeting for all of Richard Fourie, Justin Snaith, Glen Kotzen and Andre Nel.
