Jury rules in favour of Jukebox in Juddmonte Stakes
Jukebox Jury’s last-to-first charge along the home straight in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes earned the colt quotes for the Derby and the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.
The 8-1 chance came from an unpromising position on the rail turning for home to challenge down the middle of the course under Royston Ffrench and collar 15-8 favourite Cityscape – although trainer Mark Johnston admitted he had his reservations about how his charge would perform if losing ground at the start.
That trait hindered him in France and again raised its head as Ffrench was almost unshipped leaving the stalls.
At that stage, Johnston did not know whether the Group Two contest would prove a hit or a miss for the son of Montjeu.
But the cool Ffrench made sure it was the former as he battled on for nearly £60,000 first-place prize-money.
Johnston said: “It was tight and Royston said he was almost unshipped coming out of the stalls.
“I told Royston not to rush him if he botched the start and was a bit worried when he rousted him along to recover the ground.
“I said he should give the colt one smack and then put his stick down, which he did.”
William Hill make Jukebox Jury, owned by Alan Spence, a 33-1 chance for Epsom and as short as 10-1 for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – though connections have yet to mull over future engagements.
Cityscape ran with credit on what was a big step up in grade but Orizaba proved disappointing and finished fourth.
Orizaba’s trainer, Mick Channon, enjoyed better luck in the Fasig-Tipton Rosemary Stakes when Eva’s Request produced a strong late surge to thwart Mekong Melody and Ghaidaa by a length and a short head under Eddie Creighton.
Channon, still recovering from the injuries he sustained in a car accident a month ago, was represented by his son, Michael.
He said: “Days like this mean everything, and what’s happened shows that you must never take things for granted.
“I’ve just spoken to dad who is chuffed to bits with the filly.
“She’s been campaigned like a good filly, running in Guineas and showing up well in Ireland, but Eddie said she was a different filly today.”
Hayley Turner’s talents were again extolled as she guided Furnace (12-1) home for Michael Bell in the totesport.com Challenge Cup.
Turner succeeded in getting much-needed cover for her mount early on, and produced him at the perfect time to nail 9-1 favourite Relative Order by a head.
“That was brilliant,” said the jockey.
“He took me to the two furlong pole as I was lucky enough to have a front-runner next to me. He battled on really well.
“Michael has been brilliant with his support.”
Bell commented: “Hayley has really improved this year.
“She’s riding better horses and the owners are pleased to have her on.”
Furnace is due to go under the hammer at Newmarket Sales and Bell added: “I’m thrilled with the horse.
“He’s had a couple of freak injuries and is lightly raced.
“But two good pay-days in the last month have put things right. I hope the owners may reconsider letting him go.”
There was, however, a sting in the tail for Turner, who was suspended three days for careless riding.
John Egan was banned two days for careless riding in the same race aboard Golden Desert.
Meydan Princess (9-1) took revenge on her Newmarket conqueror Medicea Sidera to the tune of three lengths in the Miles & Morrison October Stakes.
Her trainer Jeremy Noseda said: “This filly should have won last time but missed the break by six lengths.
“Today was a good day to get it right.”
There was a ding-dong tussle in the Broadway Gordon Carter Handicap, in which the Pat Eddery-trained Ascalon thwarted Downhiller by a head under a determined Alan Munro.
