Jimmy Fortune
James Joseph Fortune was born in County Wexford on 14 June 1972.
James Joseph Fortune was born in County Wexford on 14 June 1972.
In a thirty-year career, he won sixteen Group 1 winners and one classic, the 2007 St Leger.
In a thirty-year career, he won sixteen Group 1 winners and one classic, the 2007 St Leger.
Fortune was apprenticed to Mike O'Neill and Luca Cumani. He was first licensed in 1987 and his first win came on 29 July 1988 at Thirsk riding Hitchenstown for Eric Alston.
Fortune was apprenticed to Mike O'Neill and Luca Cumani. He was first licensed in 1987 and his first win came on 29 July 1988 at Thirsk riding Hitchenstown for Eric Alston.
It was O'Neill who brought Fortune over to Britain, and his first major victory was on O'Neill's Joveworth at 50/1 in the 1989 Ayr Gold Cup, while still an apprentice, claiming 5lb. In 1990 he became Champion Apprentice with 47 wins.
It was O'Neill who brought Fortune over to Britain, and his first major victory was on O'Neill's Joveworth at 50/1 in the 1989 Ayr Gold Cup, while still an apprentice, claiming 5lb. In 1990 he became Champion Apprentice with 47 wins.
Later, Fortune became jockey for David Barron, then took a retainer with Jack Ramsden after Kieren Fallon left. This led to him becoming the retained jockey for Robert Sangster in 1998, when Peter Chapple-Hyam was his trainer.
Later, Fortune became jockey for David Barron, then took a retainer with Jack Ramsden after Kieren Fallon left. This led to him becoming the retained jockey for Robert Sangster in 1998, when Peter Chapple-Hyam was his trainer.
His first Group 1 win was on Commander Collins in that season's Racing Post Trophy. Following that, he rode for Paul Cole.
His first Group 1 win was on Commander Collins in that season's Racing Post Trophy. Following that, he rode for Paul Cole.
For seven years he was associated with John Gosden. For Gosden, he won his only Classic win on Lucarno in the 2007 St Leger. Other victories for Gosden included the Fillies' Mile and Coronation Stakes on Nannina, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Raven's Pass, the Middle Park Stakes on Oasis Dream and the Pretty Polly Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille (although later controversially disqualified) on Dar Re Mi. He also won the Hungerford Stakes and Challenge Stakes on Sleeping Indian, who as a favourite horse.
For seven years he was associated with John Gosden. For Gosden, he won his only Classic win on Lucarno in the 2007 St Leger. Other victories for Gosden included the Fillies' Mile and Coronation Stakes on Nannina, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Raven's Pass, the Middle Park Stakes on Oasis Dream and the Pretty Polly Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille (although later controversially disqualified) on Dar Re Mi. He also won the Hungerford Stakes and Challenge Stakes on Sleeping Indian, who as a favourite horse.
Another good win came on Expresso Star in the 2009 Lincoln Handicap.
Another good win came on Expresso Star in the 2009 Lincoln Handicap.
He turned freelance in 2010. Later in his career, he rode for Brian Meehan and Andrew Balding, winning the 2016 Cambridgeshire Handicap for Meehan on Spark Plug and the Diomed Stakes for Balding on Tullius.
He turned freelance in 2010. Later in his career, he rode for Brian Meehan and Andrew Balding, winning the 2016 Cambridgeshire Handicap for Meehan on Spark Plug and the Diomed Stakes for Balding on Tullius.
He retired in 2017, aged 45, with back problems resulting from a fall at Newbury. In his final race, he finished third on John Gosden's Nathra in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.
He retired in 2017, aged 45, with back problems resulting from a fall at Newbury. In his final race, he finished third on John Gosden's Nathra in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.
"I am sad to be leaving the weighing room," he said on retirement. "You want to go on forever but I had to be realistic. It was not an easy decision to make." He planned to start a property business with his two teenage sons.
"I am sad to be leaving the weighing room," he said on retirement. "You want to go on forever but I had to be realistic. It was not an easy decision to make." He planned to start a property business with his two teenage sons.
At the time of his retirement he had won 1,780 races in Britain, the seventh-highest total of jockeys currently riding. His highest position in the jockeys' table was joint 4th in 1998 with 108 wins, but his best total was 110 wins in 2007. Tony Hind was his agent for 25 years. He was well-known and respected for his physical strength in the saddle.
At the time of his retirement he had won 1,780 races in Britain, the seventh-highest total of jockeys currently riding. His highest position in the jockeys' table was joint 4th in 1998 with 108 wins, but his best total was 110 wins in 2007. Tony Hind was his agent for 25 years. He was well-known and respected for his physical strength in the saddle.
The best week of his career was in 2006, when he was the top jockey at Royal Ascot, winning the Coronation Stakes on Nannina, the Norfolk Stakes on Winker Watson, the Royal Hunt Cup on Royal Oath, the Jersey Stakes on Tariq, the Wokingham Handicap on Baltic King and the Ascot Stakes on Full House. His best single day was also at Ascot, when he won the 2008 Fillies' Mile on Rainbow View and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Raven's Pass. Raven's Pass was the highest-rated horse of his career (rated 131 by the Racing Post for that win).
The best week of his career was in 2006, when he was the top jockey at Royal Ascot, winning the Coronation Stakes on Nannina, the Norfolk Stakes on Winker Watson, the Royal Hunt Cup on Royal Oath, the Jersey Stakes on Tariq, the Wokingham Handicap on Baltic King and the Ascot Stakes on Full House. His best single day was also at Ascot, when he won the 2008 Fillies' Mile on Rainbow View and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Raven's Pass. Raven's Pass was the highest-rated horse of his career (rated 131 by the Racing Post for that win).
Major wins included:
Major wins included:
Classic winner
Classic winner
St Leger: Lucarno (2207)
St Leger: Lucarno (2207)
Other big winners
Other big winners
1998: Racing Post Trophy – Commander Collins
1998: Racing Post Trophy – Commander Collins
1999: Queen Mary Stakes – Shining Hour
1999: Queen Mary Stakes – Shining Hour
2000: Cheshire Oaks – Solaia
2000: Cheshire Oaks – Solaia
2002: Royal Hunt Cup – Norton
2002: Royal Hunt Cup – Norton
2002: Middle Park Stakes – Oasis Dream
2002: Middle Park Stakes – Oasis Dream
2003: Bessborough Stakes – Waverley
2003: Bessborough Stakes – Waverley
2004: Old Newton Cup – Alkaased
2004: Old Newton Cup – Alkaased
2004: Fillies’ Mile – Playful Act
2004: Fillies’ Mile – Playful Act
2005: King Edward VII Stakes – Plea Bargain
2005: King Edward VII Stakes – Plea Bargain
2005: Fillies’ Mile – Nannina
2005: Fillies’ Mile – Nannina
2006: Coronation Stakes – Nannina
2006: Coronation Stakes – Nannina
2006: Wokingham Stakes – Baltic King
2006: Wokingham Stakes – Baltic King
2006: Sussex Stakes – Court Masterpiece
2006: Sussex Stakes – Court Masterpiece
2007: Ascot Stakes – Full House
2007: Ascot Stakes – Full House
2007: Royal Hunt Cup – Royal Oath
2007: Royal Hunt Cup – Royal Oath
2007: Jersey Stakes – Tariq
2007: Jersey Stakes – Tariq
2007: Norfolk Stakes – Winker Watson
2007: Norfolk Stakes – Winker Watson
2007: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Pipedreamer
2007: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Pipedreamer
2008: Ribblesdale Stakes – Michita
2008: Ribblesdale Stakes – Michita
2008: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Raven’s Pass
2008: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Raven’s Pass
2008: Cheveley Park Stakes – Serious Attitude
2008: Cheveley Park Stakes – Serious Attitude
2008: Fillies’ Mile – Rainbow View
2008: Fillies’ Mile – Rainbow View
2009: Lincoln Handicap – Expresso Star
2009: Lincoln Handicap – Expresso Star
2009: Lockinge Stakes – Visual
2009: Lockinge Stakes – Visual
2009: Hardwicke Stakes – Bronze Cannon
2009: Hardwicke Stakes – Bronze Cannon
2009: Yorkshire Oaks – Dar Re Mi
2009: Yorkshire Oaks – Dar Re Mi
2009: November handicap – Charm School
2009: November handicap – Charm School
2013: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Chiberta King
2013: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Chiberta King
In Ireland
In Ireland
2009: Matron Stakes – Rainbow View
2009: Matron Stakes – Rainbow View
2009: Pretty Polly Stakes – Dar Re Mi
2009: Pretty Polly Stakes – Dar Re Mi
In France
In France
2001: Prix de la Forét – Mount Abu
2001: Prix de la Forét – Mount Abu
In Italy
In Italy
2007: Premio Vittorio de Capua – Linngari
2007: Premio Vittorio de Capua – Linngari
In India
In India
1996: Indian Derby – Star Supreme
1996: Indian Derby – Star Supreme
2013: Indian Derby Super Storm
2013: Indian Derby Super Storm