SOUTH AFRICA: July Rivals Meet In Champions Cup

Friday, 27 July 2012: Trainer Gary Alexander says Pierre Jourdan has come out of his Vodacom Durban July well and will be a leading contender for the G1 Champions Cup over 1800m on Super Saturday at Greyville this weekend.

Alexander said the five-year-old didn't enjoy the best of luck in the July.

"He hit his fetlock when he jumped, so it took a stride or two for him to get going and by that stage Robbie (Fradd) had no alternative but to go on to the fence behind them.

"He ran on well the whole way up the straight and did well to finish just five lengths back.

"He's come out of the race well and at the weights he has a shout. He's fit and we've freshened him up.

"The main thing is he's looking good and moving well. If he's moving well, he's always dangerous."

Pierre Jourdan will jump from draw eleven and with 60kg on his back off a merit rating of 112 he is the third best in at the weights. The 1800m trip will suit him well and Fradd keeps the ride.

The Mike de Kock-trained Solo Traveller is another looking to bounce off his Durban July effort in the Champions Cup with the addition of blinkers.

The dual Guineas winner Solo Traveller ran a cracker from draw 14 in the July when flying up late to finish fifth.

Stable rep Nathan Kotzen said: "We have put the blinkers on. He doesn't seem to be travelling in the early part of the race and they should help.”

He has to carry 59kg off a merit rating of 106, which puts him 4.5kg under sufferance with the best in Castlethorpe, who carries 57.5kg off a rating of 112.

Early favourites for the Champions Cup are other Durban July runners Whiteline Fever and Chesalon, who was lame after the race.

Trainer Mike Bass reported that Chesalon had recovered from his lameness.

“He hung a bit in the July and it cost him the race. He will hopefully get through it this time," he said.

"He is pretty fit. We don't need to work them particularly hard at this time of the season.”

Bass also runs English Garden and Castlethorpe.

He said English Garden is looking a picture at the track and could well make up for his disappointing July run after he was squeezed out early in the race.

The Australian-bred Castlethorpe is officially best in at the weights on a merit rating of 112 but Bass is wary.

"He is usually a 108 and they suddenly bumped him up to 112 for finishing second in a false run race, so who knows if he is actually best in at the weights," Bass said.

Castlethorpe had a setback about two weeks before the July when suffering from a temperature.

The Sean Tarry-trained Whiteline Fever was unlucky in the Durban July when squeezed out in the straight.

Tarry said: "He came through the race well. He is fresh and doing well and I may put the blinkers on to help him concentrate.”

Stablemate Gold Onyx had also taken his July run well. He finished a head in front of the unlucky Whiteline Fever in seventh place and has a liking for the Greyville track.

He is also 1kg better off with Whiteline Fever from their July meeting.

Super Saturday features four G1 races including the Ladbrokes Gold Cup and Champions Cup.