Jukebox Jury a hit for Mark Johnston
Mark Johnston had to accept the disappointment of Awzaan finishing only 15th in the 2000 Guineas but there were some positives.
He still came away with a double that was highlighted by the victory of Jukebox Jury, in the Group Two stanjames.com Jockey Club Stakes, and the horse is likely to be campaigned in some of the top races this summer.
Jukebox Jury was running in a visor for the first time but jockey Royston Ffrench could see the problem quite clearly. Stable companion Drill Sergeant had cut out the early pace but the Claremont, the Godolphin runner trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, was launched for a long strike for home with a half-mile still to run.
Ffrench responded and then Jukebox Jury stretched ahead but had to work to repel a late challenge from Nanton to win by three-and-three-quarter lengths. “I was heart in my mouth,” Johnston said. “It was a long way out to start racing, but I don’t think Royston had any choice when the Godolphin horse came to throw down the gauntlet.
“He couldn’t let it go, so he went to the front. He went there so easily but, at the same time, I was very conscious that there were four furlongs to go. It’s a h**l of a long way out to start racing and I was concerned; perhaps the visor did come into play, because he certainly isn’t a horse who would’ve wanted to be in front for four furlongs last year.
“It was a bit heart-stopping to be out there and it might be doing him a bit of a disservice but Nanton was one of the outsiders and so to see him finishing like that I think we’ve gone for it a bit soon.”
Last season Jukebox Jury won the Group One race that his form had suggested he could in Cologne in September but his trainer is keeping closer to home for the present. “We want to prove him in Britain and Ireland if we can. So he’ll go to the Coronation Cup next almost certainly and then we’ve got thoughts of coming back to a mile-and-a-quarter. There were a few derogatory comments about his lining up in the Eclipse last year. I think they might take more notice of him this year.”
Equiano served notice that he is back to his best form when he won the Group Three stanjames.com Palace House Stakes. The winner of the King’s Stand Stakes in 2008, Equiano was following up from his victory in the Abernant Stakes at the Craven meeting last month and is likely to be heading for another crack at the King’s Stand next month.
The Newmarket Stakes did not produce any contenders for the Derby this year and the winner, Gardening Leave could also be heading for the royal meeting with trainer Andrew Balding nominating the Hampton Court Stakes.
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