PIERRE JOURDAN is out to win the R600,000 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile at Turffontein on Saturday 3 November for the second year running and fared well in the ballot for barrier positions at a special function at Emperors Palace on Wednesday.

The Charity Mile is a unique event that brings together top horses, celebrities and sponsors in aid of charity. Each horse in the race is publically represented by a celebrity and runs on behalf of a charity nominated by a sponsor.

The finishing positions determine the amount each charity wins with a whopping R100,000 for the charity represented by the winning horse.

Pierre Jourdan’s connections were delighted when he drew at No 8 for the Grade 2 race because low-number stalls are an advantage over the Turffontein standside 1600m.
Pierre Jourdan has not won since last year’s event, in which he secured a R100,000 payout for the Animal Anti-Cruelty League.

No runner has won the Charity Mile twice since its inception, but Pierre Jourdan hits form at this time of year and his charity in this year’s race, San Michele, will be hoping for a bold effort by the gelding.

Champion trainer Mike de Kock has five runners including talented Link Man, who will run for Daily Sun-nominated charity African Angels and will be represented by actor Alfred Ntombela.

Link Man scored a good win in the Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m on the inside track at Turffontein this month and is reasonably drawn at No 10.

His highly regarded stable companion Silver Flyer (runs for Emperors Palace-nominated Khangezile Primary After-School Care Centre and has Sindy Mabe as his celebrity) did not fare as well in the ballot, drawing at No 16.

Silver Flyer likes to run from off the pace though and a wide draw should not unduly prejudice his chances of winning.

De Kock will also field Meadow Magic, Silent Partner and Mujaarib. Meadow Magic, who runs for Racing Express-sponsored the Highveld Horse Care Unit and will be represented by Neil Andrews, drew at No 13, while Silent Partner got No 9 barrier. Ultra-promising Mujaarib has won all three of his races to date but drew wide at No 15.

Whiteline Fever, who will run for Emperors Palace-nominated Peermont School Support Programme and will be represented by Anele Mododa, drew well at No 6. He was rated among the top three-year-olds last season and started his four-year-old campaign with an impressive win over 1450m at Clairwood this month.

Northern Emperor drew widest of all at No 19 and was later withdrawn, which brings first reserve runner The Mouseketeer into the field.

The final field for the R600,000 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Grade 2) over 1600m:
1 – 10 LINK MAN (M F De Kock) A Delpech 60.5 – 111
2 – 8 PIERRE JOURDAN (G M Alexander) P Strydom 59.5 – 109
3 – 1 SMANJEMANJE (T Zackey) G van Niekerk 59.5 – 109
4 – 2 SNOWDON (O A Ferraris) B Fayd’Herbe 59.0 – 108
5 – 11 ROYAL BENCHER (A G Laird) S Randolph 58.5 – 107
6 – 6 WHITELINE FEVER (S G Tarry) R Danielson 58.5 – 107
7 – 16 SILVER FLYER (M F De Kock) K Shea 58.0 – 106
8 – 7 GOLDEN CREST (G V Woodruff) M V’Rensburg 57.5 – 105
9 – 19 SCRATCHED
10 – 18 POTALA PALACE (M G Azzie) G Lerena 55.5 – 101
11 – 12 ASTRO NEWS (B O Wiid) M Yeni 54.5 – 99
12 – 13 MEADOW MAGIC (M F De Kock) R Simons 54.5 – 99
13 – 14 GLORIOUS JET (S J Gray)  …………… 53.0 – 96
14 – 17 ROMAN WALL (S G Tarry) K Teetan 52.5 – 95
15 – 9 SILENT PARTNER (M F De Kock) D David 52.5 – 95
16 – 15 MUJAARIB (M F De Kock) G Hatt 52.0 – 94
17 – 5 THE MOUSEKETEER (S G Tarry) 1 54.5 – 99
Reserve Runners
18 – 4 WITTENBERG (G V Woodruff)  Reserve 2 54.5 – 99
19 – 3 KINGS ENTOURAGE (M N Houdalakis)  Reserve 3 52.5 – 95
Coupled for Pick 6 ONLY: (1, 7, 12, 15 & 16); (6, 14 & 17); (8 &18).

Headline photo: Silver Flyer, strong contender. (JC Photos)