Andrew Fortune clinched a treble when riding the Alan Greeff-trained Spirit Of Nical (Vercingetorix) to victory in the fifth race at Fairview on Monday. The filly was fittingly owned by Bernard Kantor and John Koster on the day of the big Klawervlei Stud dispersal Sale. Fortune was unfortunately the victim of a nasty incident in the next race and is estimated to be out for eight weeks (Picture: Pauline Herman)
Andrew Fortune has in typical fashion taken his latest sidelining injury in philosophical fashion, despite it having ended a magnificent run he was on.
Fortune had ridden three winners for Alan Greeff on Monday and still had the virtual certainty Kleinzee to come when he was unfortunate to be partnered with Ayuwi Yuwi, whom he had eased out of the sixth race before the mare collapsed and reportedly landed on top of him.
After X-rays had confirmed his right clavicle to be fractured at the edge of the plate and point of the shoulder, and also that he had suffered broken ribs, he offered condolences to Hollywood Racing on the sad loss of the five-year-old mare.
The prognosis is that he will be out for eight weeks.
The injury comes less than six months after a terrible fall at Fairview left him with six broken ribs, punctured lungs, a fractured clavicle and a severed shoulder blade.
Considering he is now 59 years old, many would have expected him to hang up his boots after the latest injury.
However, he told the Sporting Post that it was naturally a disappointing way to start the new season but that everything in life happened for a reason, and he intended to get through this challenge.
He came back from that fall in February to ride Wish List to two Gr 2 victories and a narrow second in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, among other Graded race places on other horses.
An inkling of his determination is that after parting ways with the powerful Championship-dominating yard of Justin Snaith yard at the end of last season he has started this season with five wins in 18 rides at a strike rate of 27.78%.
After he had ridden Masterofthebaroque, Slash ‘N Burn and Spirit Of Nical to victory on Monday, there looked to be more to come.
However, he was stood down and Kyle Strydom landed the plum ride on the five-year-old Gimmethegreenlight mare Kleinzee, who gave Greeff a five-timer on the day when winning for the sixth time in succession.
