Fortune Back At The Races Next Wednesday
Andrew Fortune won three Gr 1 races in January this year and also won the Gr 2 Sceptre Stakes on Gimme What I Want (pictured: Wayne Marks), but a shocking fall on 20 February at Fairview ended the roll
Andrew Fortune’s remarkably quick recovery from injuries that included six broken ribs, punctured lungs, a fractured clavicle and a severed shoulder blade in a fall at Fairview on 20 February sees him accepting two rides at the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting on Wednesday April 15.
For SA Racing’s amazing comeback kid to come back in seven weeks and five days from those injuries at the age of 58 is further testament to his inspirational resilience.
His first ride back is due to be on the Justin Snaith-trained Royal Mo colt From The Island, who won third time out when stepped up to 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, and he is now entered in a Juvenile Plate over 1400m at the meeting on the 15th for which declarations happen on Thursday this week.
His other ride will be on Eight On Eighteen’s half-brother Future Free, a twice-winning 89-rated Futura three-year-old gelding.
He runs in a Class 4 race over 1600m, where he has been set a weight of 61kg.
Fortune said recently, “I have visited the hyperbaric chamber regularly. I listened to my doctor and stayed in the loop at the Snaith team.”
The injuries possibly cost him two Gr 1 victories.
The horses he rode to Gr 1 glory on WSB Met day, the Justin Snaith-trained pair See It Again and Double Grand Slam, both won Gr 1 at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.
Craig Zackey rode both of them superbly, but he is retained by Khaya Stables and is tied to the Dean Kanemeyer yard, so he is unlikely to be able to commit to either horse for the Champions Season.
Bo Ngcobo Was Quietly Confident Of Winning The Nursery
Bo Ngcobo interviewed after Better Never Ends had won the Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery (JC Photos)
Summerveld-based trainer Siboniso “Bo” Ngcobo’s had his first stakes win on Saturday when the Clifton Stud-bred colt Better Never Ends caused a massive 40/1 upset in the Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery over 1160m at Turffontein Standside.
His first stakes winner was thus also his first Graded winner and Better Never Ends was also his first ever runner outside of KZN.
Bo regards his first career win, with Lightning Jimmy, as the official start of his professional training career as he had operated with just a couple of horses for a whole year before that and as Lightning Jimmy won on 17 March 2024 it means by Bo’s yardstick it took him just two years and a couple of weeks to win at Graded level and it came in race that a few years ago was actually a Gr 1 event.
Bo can add two further feathers to his cap as he became the trainer of the KZN-based stallion Declarationofpeace’s first stakes winner and he also achieved the rare feat of winning a Gr 2 with a maiden.
That is not bad for a yard that currently only boasts a string of ten horses.
The SA Nursery on Saturday only had four runners having cut up for the probable reason that the R3 million Race Coast Slipper to be run this Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville provided an attractive alternative for some of the better two-year-olds around.
Nevertheless, Better Never Ends seemed a bit out of his depth having had six runs for two second places and two fourths in Maiden Juvenile Plates, while he had been comfortably beaten, although without being totally disgraced, in two Futurity Plate races.
However, Bo went into the race quietly confident and revealed, “He had been starting to mature and was starting to do things right. He is a November foal and initially taking him to the track had been quite a mission. But he was starting to know what was going on.”
Bo said he would not have transported him up to the race had he not believed in his ability.
He continued, “His track work had been outstanding before we took him to Jo’Burg. I knew he had the ability, but I was just worried about his maturity, although I knew the penny had been starting to drop”
The win was particularly rewarding for more reasons than one.
Bo explained, “My son Qiniso, who has just been licensed by SAJA to ride in races, has been doing a great job with him at track and he has built up a good understanding with Better Never Ends.”
He continued, “So I was more confident than ever before going into a race, but on the other hand there was just that little bit of doubt that he would act up being at a new track and I was concerned he might spook at new surroundings.”
However, the race panned out perfectly.
The 5/10 favourite was Gimme A Vodka, who was coming off a fine 1,70 length second to the biggest talking horse in the juvenile ranks, World Attraction, a Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained One World colt who has won both of his starts in effortless fashion.
The 9/4 second favourite was the Buffalo Bill Cody colt, the Bronx Bull, who won second time out and the form of that win had worked out exceptionally well.
The 25/2 third favourite in the small field was also a maiden, the United States gelding Kudikaran, but his 3,20 length place finish in his only start was behind the exciting prospect Turn It Up, a half-brother to Gr 1 winner Proceed, although admittedly he had received 3kg from Turn It Up.
In the race on Saturday Better Never Ends had the advantage of the standside draw.
There were a few other factors which had buoyed Bo’s confidence.
Firstly, the horse was wearing second time blinkers and had run well in them first time out in a 1400m event at Hollywoodbets Greyville, finishing a 3,90 length fourth.
Secondly, Bo had run Better Never Ends often and he had always returned sound as a bell,so he had not had to do much with him at home and he knew he was a very fit horse.
Thirdly, he asked the physiotherapist Paige Janse van Rensburg, who works on his Hollywood-trained horse Eventidor, to do some work on Better Never Ends.
He said, “I noticed she had been doing very good job for Hollywood, so I asked her to do some of my horses as well. She did physio on him and put tape on him to help with his blood circulation.”
Better Never Ends jumped superbly in the race and Muzi Yeni had him nice and relaxed.
He just sat on him and would have been pleased to see Gimme A Vodka and The Bronx Bull going eyeball to eyeball in front of him and it got better as Kudikaran then tracked inward to join them.
Better Never End got a beautiful tow and was going easily through the halfway mark of the 1160m contest.
Bo said, “The moment Muzi took him to the outside rail and he started running on I knew it was race over.”
Gimme A Vodka and Kudikaran were spent forces and while The Bronx Bull rallied he clearly did not have as much in the tank as Better Never End, who surged forward to win by a comfortable 0,90 lengths.
Bo will now give him a deserved rest and then aim him at the Gr 1 Gold Medallion.
However, he feels he will get better as he goes further and thinks he will get at least a mile.
Better Never Ends is out of four-time-winning Hussonet mare Endearment, whose first four foals were all winners, including five-time winner Phaka Imali (Var), five-time-winner Acacia’s Blossom (Flower Alley) and three-time-winner Agrado (Global View).
Bo landed him at the August National Two-Year-Old Sale for R360,000 on behalf of owner Dladla Family Trust (Nom: Mr Q J Manoko).
Bo said he always placed importance in the eye of the horse and he said at the Sale Better Never End’s eye was full of intelligence.
The Dladla Family Trust also own the promising Alson Ndzilana-trained Nightshine (Rafeef), who has finished second in both of his starts to date.
Bo has had an interesting working career, first managing his father’s business then working as a fireman and as he was a qualified mechanical engineer he worked in various positions in that field “just to check it out.”
However, his love lay with horses and he had held a chairmanship in the sport of rural horseracing before deciding to join the professional circuit.
He started with Tony Rivalland on March 1, 2015 and after four years with him joined a couple of other yards to gain further experience. He worked for Nathan Kotzen for a year and then worked for Peter Muscutt for a year, before returning to Rivalland for one final year.
He then felt confident enough to start out on his own and has sure done a fine job with such limited numbers.
He has had eleven wins and 33 places and that includes getting now fewer than six wins out of the Elusive Fort gelding Eventidor, who is still competitive at the age of seven.
He hopes the Gr 2 win will help him expand to 20 to 25 horses and what is particularly exciting at present is there could soon be a father/son trainer/jockey partnership in KZN.
Royal Mo Gelding's Excellent Win In Hong Kong
Count Invicto, who races under the name Aerodynamics in Hong Kong, is picture winning in South Africa (JC Photos)
Heinrich Rix of Stone Hill Stud remembers the Royal Mo gelding Count Invicto, who won in Hong Kong on Monday under the name Aerodynamics, as being a leader in the paddock as a youngster.
The former Lucky Houdalakis-trained gelding won three out of his four starts in South Africa and Heinrich believes he only lost the other one due to a below par ride.
In both of his recent trips to Hong Kong Heinrich has gone to the Mark Newnham yard to visit the Royal Mo gelding he bred and he revealed that his new trainer had always been pleased with the horse.
It did take him six runs to get off the mark in Hong Kong, although Heinrich pointed out the tight tracks had not suited him when coming from off the pace and he recalled on one occasion him being full of running in the straight, but the gaps would not open.
His win on Monday was over 2000m in a Class 3 event.
Zac Purton took him to the front from a wide draw and at last he was able to use his big stride freely.
Heinrich was very pleased with the way he kept the favourite Liveandletlive at bay in the straight before crossing the line a comfortable 0,75 length winner.
He has been raised to a Hong Kong rating of 80 for the win, but with the new front-running tactics having suited him down to the ground he should go on to win more races.
Heinrich remembers Count Invicto as a good looking sort as a yearling.
He did not reach the price they wanted for him at the BSA August Two-year-old Sale where Lucky Houdalakis landed him for R120,000.
Heinrich thus took a share in him together with Lucky as well as with M Havenga and MJ van Staden.
Heinrich said he had wanted to keep him when the offer had come from overseas as he thought the gelding was going places.
So the first offer was actually refused.
However, a second offer followed and the major shareholder in the horse thought that offer as too good to refuse.
Lucky said today, “You can’t say no to that kind of money.”
That is especially in a sport where there is chance of a horse picking up an issue or an injury.
Lucky follows Hong Kong racing avidly, particularly to support the ex-pat South Africans out there, and he has watched all of Aerodynamics races.
His opinion coincided with Heinrich’s in that from his viewpoint it seemed he had battled to get going when coming from off the pace and also had suffered some bad luck.
Taking him to the front looks to be the way to go.
Lucky revealed something not known to many South Africans and that is that Sha Tin has a very testing hill approaching the straight, which he said is so steep it makes the tough Turffontein hill look minor.
That augurs well for Aerodynamics as he clearly had plenty in the tank when challenged in the straight and he stayed the 2000m trip easily. The hill clearly did not tire him out.
Lucky, of course, has walked the track having famously won the Gr 1 Hong Kong Sprint with the legendary J J The Jet Plane back in 2010 with Piere Strydom up.
Heinrich does not believe the victory in Hong Kong will do much for Royal Mo, who remains unfashionable.
He pointed out that Lucky had done the right thing with Count Invicto (Aerodyamics) by taking his time with him and he had only made his debut in the September of his three-year-old year.
He also pointed out there were hopes the James Crawford-trained three-time-winning Royal Mo gelding Count Huhtikuu would fulfil his potential. He is coming back from injury soon.
He added the ever-improving Crawford-trained Royal Mo filly Duchess Of Paloma, who has won four of her last five starts on the Highveld, would be aimed at a Listed race soon.
Top Racing Website Goes For One Stripe In Keeneland Gr 1
One Stripe can add an overseas Gr 1 to the two Gr 1s he won in South Africa (Picture: Photo by Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos)
America’s Best Racing website has picked the Drakenstein Stud-bred and Hollywood Racing and Rikesh Sewgoolam-owned One World colt One Stripe to win Friday’s Gr 1 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland, a race which has attracted a top class field inlcuding 2000 Guineas and Breeder’s Cup Mile winner Notable Speech.
Click here to read the website’s comprehensive guide to the race
Khumalo and Mxothwa Inquiries Have Both Been Postponed
S’Manga Khumalo’s trademark victory salute (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)
S’Manga Khumalo and Luyolo Mxothwa’s inquiries into serious integrity related allegations have both been postponed.
The details are shown below:
UPDATE – INQUIRY JOCKEY S’MANGA KHUMALO
The Inquiry convened before an appointed Inquiry Board on 7 April 2026 and continued on 8 April 2026.
On the morning of 8 April 2026, a formal request for a postponement was made on behalf of jockey Khumalo. The Inquiry Board, having considered the request and the circumstances presented, granted the postponement.
Mr Khumalo commenced the Inquiry proceedings without legal representation. Legal representatives came on board on 8 April 2026 and required an opportunity to prepare for the Inquiry.
In the interests of fairness and due process, the Inquiry Board exercised its discretion to grant the postponement.
The Inquiry has been rescheduled and will reconvene on 28 and 29 April 2026.
Mr Khumalo’s interim suspension remains in place pending the finalisation of the Inquiry.
UPDATE – INQUIRY JOCKEY LUYOLO MXOTHWA
The Inquiry convened before an appointed Inquiry Board on 8 April 2026. Mr Mxothwa was legally represented.
By agreement between the parties the Inquiry was postponed to 15 April 2026.
Mr Mxothwa’s interim suspension remains in place pending the finalisation of the Inquiry.
Michael Shackleton
Legal Executive
Touched By Angels Sounds A Warning
Touched By Angels won easily on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly on Wednesday and looks to be going places (Picture: Race Coast)
Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)
The striking grey Touched By Angels enjoyed a good spell in Cape Town this past summer with Peter Muscutt’s raiding string, winning twice and enjoying some success in useful company.
That form translated into a stunning victory in the B Stakes over 1400m that headed the card on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday giving Craig Zackey an armchair ride.
Up with the pace in the early exchanges, once Zackey lit the fuse crossing the subway it was a matter of how far as Touched By Angels exploded to win as he liked.
None of the opposition will ever get their names on jam tins but it was still an impressive performance from Muscutt’s charge and a crack at the Champions Season’s features must be on the cards.
Circumbendibus has been a revelation since arriving in KZN and Glen Kotzen’s gelding went back-to-back as he put plenty of daylight between himself and the opposition in the B Stakes over 1000m leading most of the way. Kalahari Roller finished off his race nicely to edge out Donquerari.
Sifiso Bungane will certainly have got a few choice words in his ear post-race from Zackey as the apprentice cut across the bows of Donquerari forcing Zackey to check and avoid visiting Royal Durban’s third fairway but Circumbendibus was always going two strides to Donquerari’s one and the six-year-old did well to stay on for third.
Mighty Zambezi took full advantage of a healthy drop in the ratings as he made all under Cole Dicken to land the C Stakes over the minimum trip. Racing in cheek pieces for the first time, Wendy Whitehead’s charge made all and pulled away to win well with Rock Music, slightly hampered at the start, running on for second but a long way adrift of the winner.
Green Energy was sent out a short-priced favourite in the first in a field that cut up to five runners but his supporters may have been a touch nervous in the early exchanges. The odds-on chance looked to be under pressure as Kaz From Alcatraz and Pink Skies put plenty of daylight between them and the rest of the field with Serino Moodley looking to keep Adam Azzie’s charge focused around the turn but a full ten lengths adrift of the pacemakers.
However, once homeward bound, Green Energy found his stride and the result was a formality a long way out. It was the colt’s first run on the poly and he won like a horse with a bright future with a mile well within his compass.
The addition of blinkers finally got Winter Blessing over the line with Dezahn Louw riding a confident race on the Michael Roberts-trained filly with the two-year-old Royal Quest a well-beaten second.
Bangladesh found strong market support and Natie Kotzen’s gelding obliged with a comfortable win under Craig Zackey who continues on his hot winning streak. It was the first run for Kotzen after the Buffalo Bill Cody gelding had shown up well in his first run under Frank Robinson. Xiphos finished a distant second but continues to earn for his owners.
Mountainsofthemoon found all the support in the first leg of the Pick 6 and it was money on the mark as Mauritian apprentice Anaa Mosaheb turned in a display worthy of the senior jockey to land the odds for Robbie Hill and his first winner in South Africa.
Lilac In Winter and Louw looked to have the race in hand as they moved in to challenge and looked to go a neck clear but Mosaheb kept his head down and pumping away with a minimal use of the stick, Mountainsofthemoon responded to get back the lead when it mattered. One of the first criticisms of apprentices when they start their careers, is that they can’t ‘push’ – Mosaheb certainly can.
Nicholas Patel is one of the hardest working riders in Summerveld and his efforts have been rewarded with strong support from MJ Odendaal and Gareth van Zyl. Once just regarded as just a journeyman rider, he is being rewarded with more and better rides. However, he has been the regular rider of Baasie Raakvat for Odendaal and he produced the gelding with a well timed finish to comfortably get the better of Many Waters to win the C Stakes over 2400m.
Numzaan has always been a dangerous front runner but not the most reliable. He was at his best on the last as Callan Murray was never for the catching on Frikkie Greyling’s charge as he comfortably held off the challenge from Next Of Kin with favourite Gallic Victory, friendless in the market, plodding on for third and possibly looking for a lot further.
Wayne Can Get It Right At Turffontein
Wayne should enjoy the step up to 2000m in race 6 as he is by Vercingetorix out of Tiger Ridge mare Cherry Ridge, an own sister to the Triple Tiara heroine Cherry On The Top (JC Photos)
Turffontein Inside Thursday Formguides And Selections
RACE 1
Preview: TRACKSUIT DAVE (1) is improving quickly and should win. MASTEROFTHEBAROQUE (3) is lightly raced, can improve and has place claims. BEACH WALKER (2) can place and ROCK MY BOAT (4) could get involved. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-2-4)
RACE 2
Preview: An interesting line up! FORRIES FAVOURITE (1) improved a touch at the second time of asking and with more to come possibly on the cards, has each way claims. PROPHECIES (3) more than likely can serve up more and should go close. HIGHWAY HEIRESS (2) and REGAL QUEEN (4) can do better – place chances. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-2-4)
RACE 3
Preview: GREAT RIFT VALLEY (3) ran a cracker on debut and should now be tough to beat. HIGHWAY CODE (5) ran well on debut but never second time out – expect better. PARACHUTE ADAMS (6) should be in the first three and THE NAME OF DLADLA (7) is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 3-5-6-7)
RACE 4
Preview: MISS RIVER DANCER (5) has shown potential in both runs to date and has serious each way claims – bright win. TAKEACHANCEONME (6) surely has any amount of improvement to come and can go very close – big danger and possible value. MIRACULOUS MOMENT (4) is a massive runner and an inclusion in all bets – serious threat. NICOLSON LANDING (1) should be in the shake – up. (Warren Lenferna 5-6-4-1)
RACE 5
Preview: MONEY HEIST (2) is taking time to win again but is running well and looks ready for a winning run. CHESTNUT BOMBER (9) is another taking time for the next win but is seldom far off the action and should make his presence felt. ARISTOTLE (1) won well last time and is probably the one they all have to fear the most – big chance and THE AFRICA HOUSE (7) popped up to place at long odds last time – value for the places. (Warren Lenferna 2-9-1-7)
RACE 6
Preview: WAYNE (5) has solid form, nearly won last time – winning chance. Stable companion HAWKBILL (2) won well last time and has every chance of following up. DANCE KING (6) has a bright place chance and THE PLAYBOY BOMBER (7) should be in the first four – quartet non-negotiable! (Warren Lenferna 5-2-6-7)
RACE 7
Preview: DECEPTION PASS (7) went close under the in-form rider last time and they can go one better now. ARIOVISTUS (2) ran well last time and is the exacta and swinger suggestion. Plenty more can be expected from him – second run on the Highveld. KUDZU (3) and CARNELO (8) can never be dismissed – respect and include. (Warren Lenferna 7-2-3-8)
RACE 8
Preview: RINGA RINGA ROSES (2) has solid form and clearly has some ability. She has strong winning claims. STREISAND (1) showed guts and determination when winning last time and can go back-to-back. The two ladies, LADY ELLIOT (7) and LADY SABRINA (3) should make their presence felt. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-7-3)
RACE 9
Preview: DRIVELIKEAMASTER (4) keeps running second but is keeping it together well and would be deserving of the second victory. FATHER CHRISTMAS (5) is consistent and has strong each way claims. COPPER CLIFF (6) is one for the shortlist and GREENLIGHT RACER (7) is on a winning spree and there is no reason why he can’t do it again despite the layoff. (Warren Lenferna 4-5-6-7)
Today's Question
How many horses have won both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National?
The picture gives a clue to the answer
FIELDS, Thursday, 9 April
Turffontein Inside
Today’s Question Answer
Only two horses in history have won both the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree Grand National: Golden Miller (pictured) (won both in 1934) and L’Escargot (won Gold Cup 1970–71, Grand National 1975). Golden Miller remains the only horse to win both in the same season, a feat accomplished in 1934.
