Horse Racing News | Gold Circle Horse Racing And Betting

Fortune granted license

PUBLISHED: February 19, 2025

David Thiselton
Andrew Fortune has been granted a jockey license and this has been met with a mixed reaction from the racing fraternity.
The granting of the license was done on Tuesday morning and was bizarrely accompanied by the issuing to him of a massive fine and there were also certain conditions he would have to meet for the license to remain valid.
The press release announcing his license had been granted stated:
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that the Licensing Board met on 14 February 2025 to consider Mr Andrew Fortune’s application for a Jockey Licence and subsequently Mr Fortune appeared before the Licensing Board this morning in this regard. At the meeting, Mr Fortune was informed of outstanding administrative requirements and disciplinary matters that had been identified by the Licensing Board. He subsequently provided documentation in support of his application and signed an Admission of Guilt concerning contraventions of Rules 72.1.26 and 72.1.43 in relation to social media content which could be construed to discredit horse racing, the NHA and its officials. A fine of R500 000 was imposed, of which R250 000 is suspended for a period of five years on condition that he is not found guilty of contravening rules pertaining to his conduct during this period. Consequently, after careful consideration, the Licensing Board granted Mr Fortune a Jockey licence, with immediate effect, with certain conditions that were put in place. These conditions include that Mr Fortune be initially restricted to a minimum riding weight of 58kg, that he is restricted to riding in Southern Africa under the Rules of the NHA until 31 July 2026 and that his future professional conduct would be closely monitored. Licensing BoardThe National Horseracing Authority of Southern AfricaFortune’s riding ability has never been questioned and before his famous comeback in February 2008 he had reportedy had twenty Gr 1 wins.However, he has a propensity for courting controversy.His R500,000 fine was said to relate to a letter he wrote to the Sporting Post criticising an NHA fine handed out to Juan Nel and in the letter he said the following, “The Stipendiary Steward involved in the Juan Nel matter is well known to many racing stakeholders. He used to be the Clerk of Scales a few years back, when I was still riding. It always cost me a few bucks but let’s just say that it was not difficult to cheat the scale under his watch. And no Stipe should surely ever be in a position where he borrows money from people over whom he has authority and jurisdiction? It makes for potentially bad outcomes. I can give provide plenty more examples.”That was basically an admission of a serious trangression.However, he said in an interview yesterday with Joao De Mato of Glistian Events that he bore no grudges against the NHA and he would have done the same as they had done if put in their shoes.He also spoke of his need to have an attitude change and he was going to help the process by arriving at the races dressed in a suit, a sign that he will be out to be as professional as possible in the next chapter of his colourful life.Fortune also gathered a number of penalties when stable employee to his wife Ashley’s yard and this related to the improper, disrespectful, or abusive manner during a hearing held at the Head Office of the NHA on 27 May 2020, swearing at and assaulting a member of the South African Police Services, an assault on Jockey Gavin Lerena and intimidation of a licensed official of the NHA. However, Fortune’s life story tends to override these transgressions as he has become a symbol of courage and hope for recovering drug addicts.Those who find it insulting to Fortune that an article such as this one can refer to him as a recovering drug addict, he wants to be known precisely as that so he can serve as an inspiration to others who have fallen into a downward spiral and he wants to be a symbol of proof that recovery is possible.He was said in his younger days to enjoy “the high life” and this saw him in hot water with the stipendiary stewards on a regular basis. This culminated in him being “banned indefinitely from race riding” in November 2002 after, not for the first time, failing to pitch up for a meeting. This particular meeting was at Scottsville and he had a full book of rides.However, he was soon allowed to ride again, but was in and out of trouble, including testing positive for cocaine in 2004.His road to recovery began when he eventually admitted to the NHA that he had developed a drug addiction problem.The brave path to true recovery then began.He has been “clean” since 27 March, 2007.Fortune’s transformation into a symbol of hope and courage was preceded by vivid descriptions of how low his lowest moments had been. He first won admiration for just making it back into the saddle in February 2008 and riding regular winners.However, it turned into one of the all time great South African sporting fairytales, because the following season, despite being a heavyweight jockey who battled with his weight, not to mention being a recovering drug addict, he won the 2008/2009 South African jockeys championship.Fortune was also much loved for his quick wit and sense of humour, a true entertainer.He was also an inspiration to many others of all walks of life who required rehabilitation.He also had a successful battle with his weight.His last ride was on July 1, 2017 and about six months later his wife Ashley began operating as a licensed trainer with himself as assistant. The couple had considerable success, including training Princess Calla to Gr 1 glory, before they packed it in in mid 2023 and took on a new role at a spelling facility in Australia.However, the lure of race riding has proved too strong, although the decision to come back must surely have also been inspired by the success in the last two or three season of the evergreen Piere Strydom,who at 58 is one year older than Fortune.”Manne’s” fans are thrilled he is back and they are likely more in number than his detractors, who hope his good points on this occcasion completely override his bad points, as he will be looked up to by young riders.

GET A GRIP ON GEAR Episode #2 Blinkers

PUBLISHED: February 19, 2025

Join us as we check out racing gear, it’s role and how it can help a horse find the winners box. The Vaughan Marshall-trained RASCALLION has worn blinkers in his last 6 starts (all group races) winning 3, placing in 2 and crossing the line a length behind the winner in the World Sports Betting […]

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE Wednesday 19 February postponed Monday, 24 February 2025

PUBLISHED: February 19, 2025

Please note, Hollywoodbets Scottsville has received 12mm of overnight rain. With the forecast of further showers throughout the day, a decision has been taken to postpone today’s race meeting to Monday 24 February 2025. Race times to be advised.

Soccer ADDED POOLS – 21 to 24 February 2025.

PUBLISHED: February 18, 2025

This weekend (21 to 24 Feb) there are four added pools (S10 x 2; S6 x 2) and a carryover Soccer Any 13 Xtra. Plus, there is a guaranteed Soccer 13 pool (all 13 correct) for Sunday Friday 21 February 2025 Soccer 6 Pool 2 – R50,000 added; likely pool R400,000 Bristol City vs […]

Chetty looking forward to more success

PUBLISHED: February 18, 2025

David Thiselton Steven Chetty was relieved his Tony Peter-trained Duke Of Marmalade homebred gelding Son Of Raj was back in the winner’s enclosure after Saturday’s running of the Gr 3 Betway London News Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein Standside, some 680 days after his previous win in the Gr 1 SA Derby. He said, “It […]

David Thiselton

Steven Chetty was relieved his Tony Peter-trained Duke Of Marmalade homebred gelding Son Of Raj was back in the winner’s enclosure after Saturday’s running of the Gr 3 Betway London News Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein Standside, some 680 days after his previous win in the Gr 1 SA Derby.

He said, “It was so good to finally get the boy bouncing back to his winning form! I had my doubts because it was soft going and he has not performed in the soft before, so it was a pleasant surprise when he romped home convincingly.”

Steven believes the six week break he gave Son Of Raj at Winnie Fourie’s Grace Stables in Nottingham Road did him a world of good.

He said, “I think he needed it. He had a bit of a hard campaign as a three-year-old and then he went into his four-year-old season and was going flat. He has come back rejuvenated, thanks to Winnie, who did some physio work on him as well.”

He continued, “He’s pulled up well from Saturday’s race. I’m glad that the Peters’ have got a huge backing. There’s a lot of people around there that check the horses and make sure everything is 100%. He’s in good hands in terms of making sure that he’s in a good space. And he’s definitely in a good space. It is showing in the races and he’s got his three-year-old turn of foot. It seems to have come back to him.”

Son Of Raj was not given a merit rating increase and remains on 119, the same figure he ran off in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

However, the connections are going to take it one step at a time before thinking of the July, although another run in that iconic race would be massive for Durbanite Steven.

The Premier’s Champions Challenge will be the immediate focus, a Gr 1 weight for age event over 2000m at Turffontein Standside on March 29.

Son Of Raj is named after Steven’s late biological father, whilst his useful full-brother Arumugam was named after the father who helped bring him up.

This family has a lot of exciting prospects in store.

Steven let Arumugam go due to rising costs of his increasing racing interests, but the stakes-winning six-year-old gelding remains competitive in the Fritz Roux yard and will always be close to Steven’s heart.

Son Of Raj and Arumugam’s Black Minnaloushe dam Freudiana, who was a three times-winning half-sister to SA Derby third-placed Rippling Ring, is continuing to produce homebreds for Steven and his close friend and racing partner Murthee Govindsamy.

The latest sibling to race was the Tony Peter-trained Status, a The United States three-year-old colt who ran a promising two length third over 1450m on debut at the Vaal Classic track on December 19.

Steven said, “We have high hopes for him, but he’s still got to put it together on the racetrack. We can’t wait to see him back on the racetrack, although there are some niggly issues with him currently, which Tony and his team are working with. You can’t rush good horses, especially these classic horses.”

The United States, like Duke Of Marmalade, is a classic/stamina horse.

Steven said, “I like to breed these stamina horses, because obviously the biggest races are over ground. It takes a lot of patience, but I’m long in the game and I understand. You’ve got to be patient for the bigger rewards to come. Sprinters, you can get them running as two-year-olds, but these classic horses, you’ve obviously got to wait until they are three-year-olds or late three-year-olds and hopefully all goes well in that time. Eish, thoroughbreds …. the smallest thing can go wrong with them and it just puts them off.”

Freudiana has a foal at foot by Jet Dark, which Steven is also excited about. Freudiana is also in foal to Jet Dark and her daughter, an unplaced maiden by Futura called Meldiva Gold, is also in foal to Jet Dark.

He said, “We’re fortunate Kevin Sommerville from Drakenstein Stud was very generous and helpful in allowing us the services of Jet Dark, because it’s very hard to get a service from him.”

He continued, “The foal colt looks stunning. He’s got very distinctive markings on his head and he oozes quality. Eugene Freeman … our two mares are standing at his Boland Stud … says the baby looks just like his father. Eugene is very impressed with what he sees and Eugene is a top horseman … even when Son Of Raj was born, he said this boy looks very special and he was spot on.”

Steven’s mating are not done by chance.

He said, “When you do the investigations and go through it there is something that just catches your and you write it in your diary or your black book.”

“You want to keep track of some of these distinct horses you feel that you would like to breed with, especially if they are still running and you know they’re going to go to stud sometime in the future. You watch their style of running, their finish, and their temperament and you know the type of mares you have. So you could say for example, I want a horse with this type of finish … you know many years back if you look at that horse Flaming Rock … if he had been a colt and was around now I would be standing in the queue waiting with my mares for him … his turn of foot was phenomenal.”

It is thus not surprising Steven loves Jet Dark as he had a phenomenal finishing burst himself.

Steven continued, “You obviously want stallions with good temperaments. Racing is difficult, the horses come to the racecourse, they are sweaty, and they go to the starting stall, they’re all excited and half of their energy is already gone. You don’t want that in a stallion as well. However, there are some good stallions out there who had all the bad traits and they still went and performed very well.”

It is exciting times for Steven and Murthee.

Steven owns Son Of Raj on his own though and he is the member of the family who is setting the standard.