Fortune picks up the ride on Princess Royal
RACEGOERs will have a sense of déjà vu on Saturday at Kenilworth when seeing national log-leading jockey Andrew Fortune climb aboard the classy Glen Kotzen-trained filly Princess Royal, as he was unbeaten in four starts on her champion half-sister Princess Victoria, two of them in Gr 1s.
Princess Royal is running in the Gr 2 R400,000 Choice Carriers Championship over 1400m and Fortune is replacing Kotzen's stable jockey Greg Cheyne on her because the latter is retained along with Bernard Fayd'Herbe by Ridgemont Stud and was unable to commit early.
Fortune has duly flown to Cape Town twice to gallop the Captain Al filly and Kotzen said the veteran jockey had been “very excited’’ with the workouts.
She has gained a reputation as a temperamental sort who can misbehave badly on the course on occasion.
However, Kotzen said, “She had a nice long break after the Champions Season and is exceptionally well. She didn't enjoy Durban at all but has never put a foot wrong in Cape Town.
“We chose Andrew to ride her as he should suit her quirkiness and of course he was unbeaten on Princess Victoria. She has matured beautifully but we will still take precautions and take her down early.
Andrew said she has the equine equivalent of being bipolar as she will suddenly throw her toys for thirty seconds and will then come through it and behave as if nothing had happened.’’
Princess Royal was a touch unlucky when losing by a length to Entisaar in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Scottsville as she was forced to switch around runners and ended up on the unfavourable outside going. In the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day she moved up ominously in the straight and then didn't go through with it, but none of the yards runners appeared to run to their best on the day.
Princess Royal has landed a fair draw of eight in the 16 horse field on Saturday and on a merit rating of 105 is the second highest rated contestant behind Entisaar.
She has an electric turn of foot, just like her half-sister, and looks to have the potential to follow in the latter's footsteps by winning both the Choice Carriers Championship and the Gr 1 R1 million World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas on December 5.