PIERRE JOURDAN SILENCES DOUBTERS
Monday, October 11, 2010 at 11:44AM 
Pierre Jourdan - Joburg Spring Challenge (Gr3)
(Photo : JC Photographics)
JOBURG SPRING CHALLENGE (GR3)
9 October 2010
Any doubts about Pierre Jourdan’s fitness - or class for that matter - after a five-month break, were firmly dispelled in the Joburg Spring Challenge (Gr3) at Turffontein Saturday.
Andrew Harrison writes that although running on empty over the final furlong as rank outsider Galanthus and Captain Scott pressed him to the wire, the gelding ground out a half-length victory under stable jockey Andrew Fortune as his class carried him victorious to the line.
Trainer Gary Alexander said pre-race that he would have been happy with a podium finish for Pierre Jourdan but on the day his charge proved too good for the opposition and with the Charity Mile November Handicap and the Sansui Summer Cup on the horizon, Alexander will have been more than happy with Pierre Jourdan’s showing.
The expected challenge from second favourite Exclaim ‘N’ Exclude never materialised. The Australian-import catapulted out of the gate and set some decent early fractions tracked by Bulsara and Straight Forward with Pierre Jourdan slotting in behind them.
Anton Marcus looked as if he had saved a little for the dash home as he asked Exclaim’N’Exclude to quicken at the top of the straight, but he was travelling uphill in fifth gear and the tappets were hammering a long way out as Pierre Jourdan and Bulsara swept in for the challenge.
With Bulsara quickly under pressure the result looked a formality as Pierre Jourdan built a lead but his condition started to give out over the final furlong and Andrew Fortune had to work hard to keep his tiring charge to his task. But there is no substitute for guts and class and Pierre Jourdan toughed out a memorable victory. Gary Alexander said the five month break had done Pierre Jourdan the world of good and he had filled out and matured nicely since his Derby run.
Certainly on the day he was a lot more forward than most of his rivals and now looks to have the edge on most of them leading up to the business end of the Gauteng spring season.
Dates to remember :
Friday 15 October 2010
Emperors Palace Ready To Run Gallops at Summerhill stud
Saturday 6 November 2010 - Raceday
Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup
Sunday 7 November 2010 - Auction Sale
Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale
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