Fans of charismatic star jockey Andrew Fortune will be glad to see his name in the race guide for Wednesday’s race meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
The 2026 WSB Met winner rides Future Free, a half-brother to 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July runner-up Eight On Eighteen, in Race 8, a Class 4 Handicap over 1600m.
He is one of the form choices on the day.
Fortune had been riding a crest of a wave, hailed as one of the greatest comebacks in horse racing history, before an untimely fall saw him sidelined with injury for the last few months. But now that he is back, followers of top riders such as log leader Craig Zackey and record-breaking Richard Fourie now have Fortune to follow.
Justin Snaith-trained Future Free is also on the up. He showed promise earlier but after being recently gelded caught the eye in his last start running on well but too late to catch bang on form Andre Nel horse Boogiefied.
The gelding op looks to have done the trick as in his previous start Future Free reportedly showed no interest in running. He only just ran out of real estate a few weeks back and that was at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. He is now back at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth which, with its longer home straight, was where he shed his maiden tag.
From gate one he rates the one to beat.
Snaith also has an interesting debutante in Race 1, a 1000m Maiden Juvenile Plate. He sends out lone filly, Nadia Nerina, against the males but she could be the one to beat. She has lightning-fast pedigree being a What A Winter/Gimmethegreenlight cross and is related to Eastern Cape champion Anotherdanceforme and multiple Grade 1 winner Capetown Noir.
Snaith has commented that she is a “nice type and will go close” and has booked Richard Fourie for the ride.
Andre Nel also looks to have made good use of some of the top riders on the day. All of Theleia (Race 4), Candy Town (Race 6) and Phantom Man (Race 9) rate as strong form runners in their respective heats.
Theleia and Phantom Man have been knocking at the door in their respective Maiden contests and Keagan De Melo (another champion rider) could be the one that gets them to open their accounts. De Melo has been in hot form and Theleia and Phantom Man have only just been battling to get the timing right.
Candy Town, who was ridden by De Melo in her last two starts, is now partnered by Richard Fourie for the first time. Not only is she the best weighted horse in her heat but she had main rivals Elusive Winter, Flying Finley, North Point and Un Bel Di behind her when second to Sardinia Bay. The latter franked the form when second in the recent Easter Sprint which was a powerful affair.
Clive Robinson
