PIERRE JOURDAN SHOWING NO SIGNS OF BEING OFF COLOUR
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 02:40PM 
Click above to watch Pierre Jourdan winning his season debut…
(Image : Gary Alexander Racing - Footage : Tellytrack)
PEERMONT EMPERORS PALACE CHARITY MILE
Turffontein, Turf, 1600m
5 November 2011
NICCI GARNER - A few of Pierre Jourdan’s stable companions have come down with “a bit of a virus”, according to trainer Gary Alexander, but “we’re working on it”.
“A few of the babies have swollen legs and the virus seems to be filtering through to the older horses, which is why we haven’t had too many runners at recent meetings,” the Turffontein-based trainer said. “It’s mainly the youngsters, but you never know till they run - they just don’t perform as well as they should.”
Pierre Jourdan, who finished second to fellow Emperors Palace Ready To Run graduate, Igugu, in this year’s Vodacom Durban July and came out following a rest in a 1450m Conditions Plate on the inside track at Turffontein recently to beat Without Malice by 0.50 lengths, is set to start a warm order in the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile on Saturday next week.
His trainer confesses: “Thank God the Charity Mile is not tomorrow. We’ve still got 10 days and Pierre Jourdan is showing no signs of being off colour. We’ll know for sure next week, but if there’s any doubt, I won’t risk him. His big one is the Sansui Summer Cup (hosted by Gauteng), so we’re hoping he pulls up nicely.”
Alexander commented that he is happy with Pierre Jourdan’s current wellbeing. “So far, so good. He’s working lovely and is getting better all the time. We didn’t expect him to win that Conditions Plate in his 2011 debut. The track was very quick and he won a nice race. I’m happy with No 8 draw for him. He’s never been a front-runner, so it will give Derreck (David) options about where to place him. Hopefully we get a bit of rain before the race to slow the track up. The tracks are running very fast at the moment.”
When questioned about the dangers, Alexander said: “One of the Mike de Kock runners. Which one, I don’t know.
Extract from Tab Online
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