Left : Pierre Jourdan - Gauteng Guineas (Gr2)
Right : Fisani - Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Gr2)
(Photos : JC Photographics)

OF GARY ALEXANDER, SHEIKH MOHAMMED AND RONNIE NAPIER

For some years now, the Gary Alexander yard have fed off the fruits of the Ready To Run sale, deservedly fielding money earners in every one of the Emperors Palace Cup’s first three renewals. This year, they visited the mountaintop with R60 000 buy, Pierre Jourdan, now the winner of five of his first six and more than R1,6 million.

One of the calls I was compelled to make (even at 3:15 am Asiatic time) was to the Alexanders, all of whom were quick to point out they hadn’t only won the Gauteng Guineas with Pierre Jourdan, but they’d also trained the dams respectively of the runner-up, Havasha, and the Gauteng Fillies Guineas heroine, Fisani.

In another interrelated fact, Fisani’s co-owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum was also a co-bred (with Summerhill) of Pierre Jourdan, while Ronnie Napier (South Africa’s long serving racing ambassador), is an accomplice in the ownership of both the 2008 Guineas ace, Imbongi as well as Fisani.

Goes to show, loyalty pays!