Log leader Andrew Fortune rode in Cape Town for the first time this season yesterday and promptly gave his army of supporters a 16-1 surprise on a horse that only has one eye.

The Eric Sands-trained newcomer Hanabi was down to be ridden by Grant Behr and, when Sands found that he had not fully recovered from the nasty kick he suffered here a week ago, he had little hesitation in going for Manna Fortune.

However the former champion, who now gets the majority of his rides in Johannesburg, promptly ruled out becoming a Cape Town regular once more.

He said: “The reason I came here today was to gallop Princess Victoria’s sister Princess Royal because I am riding her in the features this season and they then put me on a few horses. A winner was a bonus.”

Fortune’s searching pace this term – he has ridden more winners (37) and has had more rides (almost 230) than any other jockey – has given rise to speculation that he is going all out for a repeat of his 2008/09 title.

Seemingly, though, it is too early to say that as he commented: “I am working hard and if the championship is there I will go for it – but not yet. One thing I have learnt, though, is that I am very tough.”

Indeed he has got over the weight and other niggling problems that threatened to end his career and in the previous four seasons restricted him to less rides, and less winners, than he has had in the first two months of the current campaign.

He said: “I’m hungry and I’m in the type of mood that you have got to put me on anything.”

Andre Nel got off the mark in his new role as Sabine Plattner’s private trainer when the Aldo Domeyer-ridden Ma Choix defied top weight and an eight month absence in the Gold Circle Handicap.

By Michael Clower 

Picture: Andrew Fortune