David Mollett
9 October 2008
Johannesburg — The career of jockey Andrew Fortune has had more ups and downs than a malaria patient's temperature chart.
Consequently, most pundits scoffed at Fortune's prediction three months ago that he had "a very real chance" of winning the 2008/09 jockeys' championship.
Those experts are now having a rethink. Fortune tops the log ahead of Mark Khan and Greg Cheyne, and the fact that only Gerrit Schlechter has ridden in more races this term is a measure of his determination.
Fortune has seven rides at the Vaal today and it will be a surprise if he doesn't add to his winning tally. Perhaps his best ride is Mike de Kock's import, Drayton, who makes his South African debut in the fifth race.
The son of Danetime was last seen in action in Dubai in March, but he won two races in Ireland earlier in his career over today's distance of 1000m.
The main threat to Drayton may come from Dominic Zaki's runner, Big Commotion. The National Assembly gelding goes well on sand and was placed twice last month. Glittering Temple has each-way claims as she's won her last two outings over this course and distance.
Fortune should not be far away on Fox Hunt in the six race, but it may pay to keep faith with Great Sovereign, who ran out a win on Emerald Cup day.
Trained in KwaZulu-Natal by Tony Rivalland, Great Sovereign can defy his six points hike in the handicap by beating Fox Hunt and Geoff Woodruff's import, Awesome Double.
St John Gray's win with Alimony in the R60 0000 Emerald Cup has shot him into sixth place in the national trainers' log and he can capture the seventh race with Father Smith.
This son of Announce is better drawn than his main rival, Running Fortune, and could be a banker in the jackpot and Pick 6. Another of Announce's progeny, Read The Stars, tries the sand for the first time in the ninth race. Given the stable's hot form on this surface, the mare might be good enough to beat home Lincoln Echo and Mark Khan's mount, Mirabelle.
Khan is likely to regard his eighth race mount, Sofala, as his best ride at the meeting. The Jet Master filly is clearly a smart sort and is bidding for a four-timer. Nevertheless, top-weight, Usual Winner, will be no pushover as this Brazilian-bred filly is 1,5kg better off this time.
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