Will Pierre Jourdan Stay?

What you think guys?

I hope he does, so yes.

Probably, but will it win? that is the question, keep thinking about the maiden win from Mirage Drive :S

Scotia - would be a bit of a Wendywood story if Mirage Drive won this. 14 plus length over a MR 53 battler is not too much to write home about in this class of horse. I suppose there is natural improvement that should follow but it would need to be serious improvement to beat horses rated in the 100+ range IMO, especially at level weights.

I wouldnt write it off completely. Royal Rez from the same stable nearly upset Oracy just over a year ago. Anything is possible.

Looking forward to some great racing.

TAB on line and RXP

Day in a million!

IT'S Champions Day at Turffontein this Saturday and the excitement is going to be incredible when Pierre Jourdan attempts to become only the second horse to win the SASCOC SA Triple Crown for three-year-olds.

The race Pierre Jourdan has to win to clinch the Triple Crown and the R2-million bonus is the R1.5-million SA Derby, the third leg of the Triple Crown and one of the most famous races on the South African racing calendar.

The mighty Horse Chestnut is the only Triple Crown winner to date and if Pierre Jourdan follows in his footsteps, he will instantly become one of the greatest bargains in South African racing history. Pierre Jourdan cost only R60,000 and victory in the SA Derby will rocket his earnings to R5.8 million – nearly 100 times what he cost owners Emilio Balsero and trainer Gary Alexander as a yearling.

There’s no doubt that Pierre Jourdan is the best three-year-old in the land – he’s already proved that by winning six of his seven career races including the Gauteng Guineas and the SA Classic, the first and second legs of the Triple Crown.

But that doesn’t mean that he’s assured of victory in the SA Derby. By their very nature Triple Crowns anywhere are hard to win (there has been no winner of the USA Triple Crown since the 1980s) and Pierre Jourdan will find himself in unfamiliar territory in the Derby because the 2450m distance is 650m further than he has raced before.

It’s impossible to know if he will stay the distance, but what is in his favour is that many top middle-distance or 2000m horses have won the SA Derby and he was certainly not stopping when he won the won the 1800m SA Classic at Turffontein last month.

Apart from the distance, his biggest obstacle on the path to Triple Crown glory appears to be Irish Flame from the yard of trainer Mike de Kock.

Irish Flame started his career at the Cape, where he won three of five starts before being sold. His new owners sent him to De Kock and he had his first start for his new stable in the SA Classic last month, when he put up an ultra-promising effort to finish 2.25 lengths behind Pierre Jourdan in third.

Irish Flame will be a lot fitter now and De Kock reckons he will be well suited to the distance of the Derby, so you can expect him to pose a real challenge to Pierre Jourdan.

The SA Derby is one of eight feature races on a superb Champions Day programme that also includes the R2-million Champions Challenge and the R1-million Computaform Sprint, South Africa’s greatest test of speed.

De Kock’s Rudra and Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Smart Banker should dominate the finish of the Champions Challenge unless Oracy can recover form after flopping last time. Expect a grand finish, but we prefer Rudra who slammed Smart Banker in the 2008 Summer Cup.

It’s going to be a day in a million and the betting pools will be huge – don’t miss it!

Yes Al should be a great race/s but its not every day you see a first timer running over 2450mt and winning by the distance, it just adds a bit spice to the race. ()

there is no doubt that piere jordan is the best 3yo in the land so writes this scribe...what is bravura and noordhoek flyer soupmeat.?.bring him to durban for the season and beat them on a neutral racecourse and then you can claim the best 3yo prize...

Being out of a Qui Danzig mare, I guess in my mind there is a question mark on his ability to stay - but I don't know too much about the family so I am hoping that he does in fact stay and win the Triple Crown. But he is not an even money shot in my book, and if he fails to see out the trip, he will get beat, and I believe one of the de Kock or Laird inmates will then pick up the spoils.

Others with chances include Iwannadance (but I also have some doubts about his ability to see out the trip) and the Azzman's Service Ace - this trip could be what he is looking for and Mr Azzie is exhibiting his usual confidence.

Regarding Mirage Dirve, I think he will find it tough - even though he won his maiden by a distance, it was a particularly weak field, and also it seems that Khumalo had the pick of the Zackey runners, and he went for Smanjemanje instead.

do think Service Ace is the value if your of the opinion that PJ may not stay, don't think we've seen the best of the Azzie's runner yet.

Looking back on the TC of last season Cherise Cherry won the points compo - www.formgrids.co.za/subscriber/fgHorseHi...s=CERISE%20CHERRY,ZA - He finished only 7-5 lengths behind Boquet Garni in the Derby - I really think he was a sprint miler and PJ is by Parade Leader as opposed to Goldkeeper and has proven to be a really top horse so I think the question is not will he stay but will the opposition be good enough to match him - Unless the Zackey horse is a marvel I think this horse will win as his class is not in doubt and though his winning margin was not that convincing last time I'm certain David was not trying to punish the horse with the triple crown in mind. I hope he wins especially as he is from the Mr P X Danzig line that produces great horses

with all the rain forecast and the guarantee of a fast pace it will be a true test of stamina ..i hope the lad on top is up to it as he is my only concern

Don't worry Pirates I think this may just be a fairytale story - What if any do you see that have shown the ability to beat him(the unexposed horse is a concern I suppose)