Jukebox Jury makes all to win the Prix Kergorlay
Two of Sunday’s Group races at Deauville provided a perfect advertisement for the Arqana August Sale which started just down the road from the racecourse the following day.
Prix Morny winner Dabirsim, whose Slickly half-sister is catalogued to sell on Thursday, was bought by his German owner Simon Springer for €30,000 last year and is now unbeaten in four starts with earnings of €260,490. In addition to his prize-money haul, the son of Hat Trick has also earned €195,367 in French owners’ and breeders’ premiums.
Jukebox Jury, all-the-way winner of the Prix Kergorlay, has a long association with Deauville. Bred by Paul Nataf, the five-year-old was sold there as a yearling for €270,000 in 2007. He made his second start at Deauville-La Touques a year later, finishing fourth in the Prix Francois Boutin after winning on debut at Glorious Goodwood.
Twelve months on his trainer Mark Johnston brought him back to win the Grand Prix de Deauville and Jukebox Jury now looks a proper cup horse after his tough win in the Kergorlay over a mile and seven furlongs.
By Montjeu, Jukebox Jury’s dam Mare Aux Fees is a daughter of Kenmare. It’s a cross that has also enjoyed great success in the National Hunt division courtesy of Champion Hurdler Hurricane Fly.
Having the pleasure of owning such a game galloper, it’s no surprise that owner Alan Spence was tempted to hope that lightning could strike twice and, through Johnston, he purchased Mare Aux Fees’s colt by Montjeu’s son Hurricane Run in August 2009 for €100,000. Named Hurricane Higgins, he also won on debut and finished runner-up to his stable-mate Dordogne in the Lingfield Derby Trial in May.
