DEAN ALEXANDER DISCUSSES PLAN FOR PIERRE JOURDAN

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GAUTENG GUINEAS NEXT FOR PIERRE JOURDAN

Charl Pretorius RacingwebSpeaking Thursday morning on a Racingweb podcast, Dean Alexander said that the Gary Alexander Racing stable believe their smart three-year-old, Pierre Jourdan, will stay over more ground as he matures. There have been a few debates in the online forums about Pierre Jourdan’s future, as he franked his form very well with a good win in Tuesday night’s Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Handicap at Turffontein, among some topsy-turvy three-year-old performances of late.

The win proved that while Pierre Jourdan is perhaps a narrow leader of the Gauteng three-year-old pack, they’re all more or less on a par. Curved Ball, considered by some unbeatable after his excellent Dingaans win, and his stablemate Galileo’s Galaxy, were both beaten in the Tony Ruffel Stakes. Galileo’s Galaxy’s form points to Cape-based star Noordhoek Flyer and by implication to Cape Derby winner Bravura, arguably the best of the bunch at this early stage.

This has the further implication that all this seaon’s three-year-old classics are up for the taking, no clear-cut champions have emerged and much will depend on preparation and well-being on the classic race days.

But Pierre Jourdan, interestingly only beaten once (by last week’s disappointing Havasha who now comes unexpectedly back into the picture), will stand his ground in the classics. Alexander said: “Pierre Jourdan is really decent, he’s a good horse with a beautiful action and we’ll go for the Guineas next. He gets going late in his races and on the way he moves, we have little doubt that he will see out more ground as he matures.”

Certainly on his pedigree, he’s a son of recently top–performing sire Parade Leader, Pierre Jourdan looks a leading early contender for the Highveld classics and the winter classics in Durban.

Extract from www.racingweb.co.za

GAUTENG GUINEAS - Imbongi starting to show best form

Imbongi (Sporting Post)

The Gr2 Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday saw  Summerhill Ready To Run graduate Imbongi (Russian Revival) run on strongly to clinch the 1600m feature, leading home from Kilcoy Castle, Horatio and Rudra.

Piere Strydom caused something of a stir by taking favourite Eddington off to the front and bolting clear by about four lengths with Rudra and Juanfra trying to stay in touch. Hamlool and Imbongi were next best ahead of Carbon Leader and Ray Sauce. Kings Gambit, JJ The Jet Plane and Horatio were midfield as Aluminium gave some ten lengths’ start. Kingdom Come was unable to get over from his draw and raced well back on the outside of runners with Lubricator and Kilcoy Castle at the rear.

Eddington turned for home well clear but thoughts that he would have the chasing pack under pressure were soon dispelled as Rudra collared him and went into the lead. Imbongi moved up smartly to challenge and Kilcoy Castle, who had turned for home a long way out of his ground, was quickening up impressively up against the inside rail. Kings Gambit and Carbon Leader were also still in contention for the placings and Hortaio was starting to unwind down the outside.

It became a two-horse race inside the final 100m, but Imbongi was always going slightly the better and he responded well to Anthony Delpech’s driving to win by a half-length.

Punters can be forgiven for ignoring Imbongi as, although he had shown definite promise early on in his career, he had looked well held in both the Dingaans and Tony Ruffel Stakes and hence looked somewhat outclassed here. However, this looks a meritorious victory as this was a highly competitive field and it appears that we are only now seeing the best of him. It certainly was a triumphant homecoming for Anthony Delpech, making a rare visit to these parts and he gave Mike de Kock’s runner a perfect ride.

Kilcoy Castle ran a great race in defeat and looked much more like his old self, after two below par efforts. He had it all to do from draw 16, was slowly away and had a huge task ahead of him turning for home. In the circumstances, it was understandable that he just could not conjure up the extra required in the final stages, but he is now due for a win.

Horatio showed that his Tony Ruffel win was no fluke as he once again produced a strong late run to clinch third. It’s worth noting that he has been taking on tough opposition throughout his short career and he looks to have come on really well in the last month or two.

Rudra showed yet again that he is an underrated sort. He is probably better over a bit further and it was no surprise to see him outpaced late, but he stuck gamely to his task and he also looks to have a respectable future ahead of him.

Eddington was the obvious disappointment of the race, but this run looks best ignored as he seemed to go too fast, too hard early on. He must be given a chance to make amends and will have every chance of doing so if ridden with a bit more restraint next time out.

I

mbongi is a 3-year-old gelding by Russian Revival (USA) out of Garden Verse (SAF) by Foveros (GB). Bred by Summerhill Stud, he is owned by Messrs MD Fleischer, OV Leibbrandt, BS Clements RS & BA Napier & Summerhill Stud Syndicate (Nom: M J B Goss).

Winning trainer: Mike de Kock

Extract from SA Horseracing.com