A Burning desire... Andrew Fortune

watch video

Brilliant and thanks for everything Andrew (tu)

never to proud to admit this story brought tears to my eyes, living legend

Andrew

I 1st met you in a hotel in JHB, that night we spoke about a punt on a horse called Trojan Hero
I then remet you in 1998/99 cant really remember but you were in JHB raiding. I collected you
a few times from the airport in my little city golf. By making some calls i got you some rides
with St John Gray. Then the call cam from alec Laird, stable jockey. you turned it down as you felt
you did not want to live in jhb. Alec said he had a lot of 2 year olds and wanted you to be part of the team.

I idolised you, respected you but the truth is i really never knew you. I did not know about your drug demons.
Had i known i probably would have been to weak to say anything, after all i was in awe of your skills and of course
i was in awe because you took my calls and gave me a tip now and then that won.

I apologise for not recongnising the pain you were in. I also would like to say all those winners you tipped me are nothing compared to the effect watching this video has had on me tonight. Respect man, you deserve it. This video is the real Andrew Fortune, one many of us have only seen now, but boy we want to see you more.

You are the greatest, your poise on horses, your feel , your ability can only be enhanced by your new path. I shudder to think that you at this point in your career could actually be on everyones lips as the jockey that delivers BECAUSE you do deliver, they run for you. Its a gift.

Horseracing is in a tough time, dwindling crowds, politics, internal fighting but maybe now is the time that someone
can unite us all in forgiveness and delight us all in winning races the way you win them.

That someone could be you!

Thank You

Surely there is a movie dying to be made here and with Andrews acting experience would make a good leading man?
It's along the lines of Bob Champion and Aldiniti?
Andrew Bonn, the Lithgows and sure one of Barry Irwin's team is in the movie game?
Adams, Shirtlift etc?

If not will have to copy Speilberg

I'm hoping to get this on CD ... can't wait to watch it the way you guys talk. I saw the interview with Andrew Bonn a few years ago and it was wonderful.

Scotia, there's a movie here for sure ... so long as it's well done. There's always a danger with this sort of story of being too heavy on the sentiment, which is off-putting to some (like me!).

As well as being a great idea for a flick, it could do more to advertise racing in SA than a thousand cheesy adverts about free candyfloss or giant jumping castles. Well-made and it would catch the imaginations of thousands that never gave the racing game a thought before. Badly made and it would be an itchy-bum embarrassment ... you want to scratch but you can't do so in public.

Very nice easy

Beautiful!!

What a guy!!

How ws his comment about the JHB jockeys and superman.lol..sorry for ignorance, but was that tongue n cheek or 4real?

ShezaPunter Wrote:

---

> Beautiful!!
>
> What a guy!!
>
> How ws his comment about the JHB jockeys and
> superman.lol..sorry for ignorance, but was that
> tongue n cheek or 4real?

i`m sure that was a reflection on the old days

Thanks Hibs..

@ sheza,

in the dark days as we now have come to know them, Andrew was to say the least opinionated and forthcoming in interviews.

SO comments like:

"put it this way i wont be phoning for the ride again" after riding a winner in a poor race

blowing bubbles with his gum while crossing the winning line without moving a muscle

"he's the trainer, im the jockey" when aksed about riding instructions

and many more like the "superman" comment. You see Anton is a great jockey but IMVHO Andrew is in tune with horses and that is a gift, i was not taught at the academy. He has it in him, Fortune can trot (not work) a horse and tell you plenty about it. I am not saying these things to big him up. I am simply stating fact. I suppose this ability couple with his addiction and i suppose arrogance made him let loose in the interviews.

Andrew Bonn , thank you for letting us all in to the Pain & Glory of the one and only Manna Andrew Fortune.

Andrew we are all so proud of you Man , you had the guts to speak about your life and your beliefs. we also had the previlage to see your MAMA in the back groud , what she must have went through when you were at your weakest , mama stood by her Boy. YOU HAVE MADE HER PROUD.

take care and all the best Andrew , you say it like it is.

well done Andrew Bonn we are looking forward to the follow up.