Andrew Fortune, a 58-year-old South African jockey, has completed a remarkable comeback by winning the £230,000 Cape Town Met at Kenilworth. Riding See It Again, he secured the biggest victory of his career, 12 months after regaining his riding licence.
Fortune, a former champion jockey in South Africa, had struggled with a drug addiction that saw him test positive for cocaine and, at his lowest point, live in a squatter camp. He retired from riding in 2017 and moved to Australia, where he worked at a racing stable but was unable to obtain a licence as a work rider. His weight ballooned to over 14 stone.
Returning to South Africa, and drug-free for 19 years, he took on the challenge of shedding five stone to make a comeback. His victory in the Met completed a family one-two, with his son Aldo Domeyer finishing runner-up on the second-placed horse.
An emotional Fortune said: “First of all, I just wanted to thank God. I came from addiction to everything, nobody wanted me, and here I stand on the biggest stage. It was so hard and I get this moment. It’s just unbelievable.”
Winning trainer Justin Snaith said: “It’s just incredible. If anyone out there is thinking you’re at your lowest point and nothing is possible, Andrew has just proven you can come back from anything. Andrew was there every week. He worked flat out and solely deserved this. Right horse, right time and right person.”
