The brilliant veteran jockey Andrew Fortune made his intentions of winning the National Jockeys Championship for a second time in his career clear yesterday when riding a five-timer at Flamingo Park.

He has ridden 35 winners this season so far at a strike rate of 18.52% and has opened a five winner lead over Anthony Delpech.

Four of Fortune’s winners yesterday were for trainer Tienie Prinsloo and one was for Cliffie Miller. They returned odds of 5/1, even money, 3/1, 2/1 and 9/10.

Muzi Yeni, who rode one winner yesterday, is seven off the pace on the national log in third place. Last year’s champion Gavin Lerena is now 21 off the pace as is Anton Marcus, while Piere Strydom, who has a suspension cloud hanging over his head, is 15 winners behind Fortune.

The 2013/2014 champion S’Manga Khumalo had one winner yesterday, but is 22 off the pace in the early running for the championships.

– David Thiselton