PIERRE JOURDAN
Parade Leader (USA) - Vin Fizz
Pierre Jourdan, dubbed in his heyday as “The People’s Horse”, has been retired.
Trainer Gary Alexander said earlier this week: “It’s the right time. He is not enjoying his racing anymore. He’s not jumping and then is not travelling in the early stages. Although he still makes up five or six lengths in the straight, it’s only enough for a midfield finish. He can’t give start and weight to the young horses.”
“Horses tell you when it’s enough,” he continued. “Pierre Jourdan’s got his problems and we don’t want to force the issue. He’s too nice a horse.”
The son of Parade Leader is almost seven now. Bred at Summerhill Stud in Mooi River, he cost R60,000 at the 2008 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale and retires with a bankroll of R4,598,175.
A nine-time winner, his career has been somewhat chequered due to soundness issues forcing long periods of rest. Most experts believed he had the world at his mercy when he won the SA Classic in 2010 but he only won three more races. It has been said, however, that the gelding’s most gallant efforts came in defeat - in the 2450m SA Derby in 2010 when he found the distance too far in heavy going and finished second to Irish Flame and in the 2011 Vodacom Durban July in which he got closest to winner Igugu - “a great run,” commented his trainer.
Although he won two races after that effort - including the 1600m Charity Mile in 2011 - Alexander admits that his stable star has not been the same force since.
The more cynical members of the racing fraternity will say that Alexander’s split with Emilio Baisero, who co-owned the gelding in partnership with Chris and Tim Hurly, Matilda Konstantou and Alexander, was the death knell of the gelding’s career.
Just over a year ago, Baisero wanted to move Pierre Jourdan to another stable but, with no agreement reached between the partners, he came up for auction. He was bought back for R1.6 million by a syndicate of Alexander’s owners and the heat was on! Unfortunately, chasing down that amount of money was too big an ask for a five-year-old, particularly one with problems, and the syndicate has been forced to call it a day with only a fraction of their outlay repaid.
“We took our chances and it was unfortunate it didn’t pay off. You never know with horses. He still gave us a lot of fun. He was a top, top horse.”
Alexander is hoping Phumelela will give “PJ”, as he is affectionately called in the yard, a retirement parade at Turffontein before he moves on to his new life. No firm plans have been made.
Pierre Jourdan’s Career Highlights
Year Race Position Distance
2012 Rising Sun Gold Challenge (Grade 1) 3rd 1600m
2012 London News Stakes (Grade 3) 3rd 1800m
2011 Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Grade 2) 1st 1600m
2011 Vodacom Durban July (Grade 1) 2nd 2200m
2011 Jubilee Handicap (Grade 3) 2nd 1800m
2010 November Handicap (Grade 2) 3rd 1600m
2010 Joburg Spring Challenge (Grade 3) 1st 1450m
2010 SA Derby (Grade 1) 2nd 2450m
2010 SA Classic (Grade 1) 1st 1800m
2010 Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) 1st 1600m
2010 Tony Ruffel Stakes (Grade 3) 1st 1400m
2009 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup (non Black Type) 1st 1400m
Extract from Tab News
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