MONTJEU was a brilliant racehorse who became one of the most important sire-sons of the phenomenal Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer).
He was an outstanding source of Derby-type horses and, although only 16 when he died, he has made a significant contribution too via his stallion sons.
Authorized, Camelot and Motivator have supplied top-level winners on the flat, but in contrast to the proportion of flat versus National Hunt sires supplied by Sadler’s Wells’ even greater son Galileo, the signs are that Montjeu branch of the line is making a stronger impact with jumpers.
Scorpion, Papal Bull, the late Fame And Glory, plus rising stars Leading Light and Masked Marvel are among his successful National Hunt sons, whereas Authorized, Camelot and Motivator have been represented by graded scorers in addition to their flat stars. Authorized, of course, is also famous as supplying both dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll and the ill-fated Grade 1 star Nichols Canyon.
Jukebox Jury is another Montjeu stallion and he broke new ground in 2020 as the sire of the popular Group 1-winning mare Princess Zoe.
The Tony Mullins-trained Prix du Cadran heroine is not the only prolific flat winner or six-figure earner he has supplied, but having left Germany to join the team at Burgage Stud several years ago his stars of the future are more likely to come over hurdles and fences than on the level.
His first Irish-conceived offspring are two-year-olds, and so will begin to appear at next year’s store sales. Judged by how his foals were received in the auction ring in 2020, they will make a big impact. Among the 16 Jukebox Jury colts wers some that realised price tags of €75,000, €70,000, €45,000 and €42,000. One of his handful of yearlings offered in 2020, a filly, made €26,000 in Germany in September.
Of course, it’s not just Princess Zoe who has pushed her sire into the limelight, although her success may broaden his appeal. Grand National-entered Farclas won the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival and Jukebox Jive was a 13-length winner of a Grade B handicap hurdle over two and a half miles at Navan in December, to name just two of his early jumpers.
Jukebox Jury, who won the Group 1 Preis von Europa and dead-heated for victory in the Group 1 The Irish Field St Leger, was Group 1-placed as a two-year-old and won seven pattern races during his track days.
He is an emerging National Hunt sire of considerable potential.
JUKEBOX JURY (IRE), Grey 2006. Won nine races, £857,187, from 7 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs, 2 to 5 years including, The Irish Field Irish St Leger, Curragh, Gr.1, Preis von Europa, Cologne, Gr.1, Darley Prix Kergorlay, Deauville, Gr.2, Grand Prix de Deauville-Lucien Barriere, Deauville, Gr.2, Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, stanjames.com Jockey Club Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.2, Totepool Rose of Lancaster Stakes, Haydock Park, Gr.3, Timeform Betfair Fred Archer Stakes, Newmarket, L, also placed second in Pattison Canadian International Stakes, Woodbine, Gr.1, Racing Post Trophy, Doncaster, Gr.1, and third in Coutts Glorious Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.3, Prix La Rochette, Longchamp, Gr.3.
Retired to Stud in 2013, and sire of the winners of 216 races, and £2,333,296 and sire of the winners of 51 races, and £810,197 under N.H. Rules, including PRINCESS ZOE (GER), O’JUKE (FR), WIESENBACH (GB), ARKTIS (GER), SANTA RITA (ITY), KLUNGEL (GER), Memphis (GER), Djukon (GB), Valajani (GER), Sister Lulu (GER), Vive Marie (GER), For Pleasure (GER), Abiona (GER), Sweet Soul Music (GER), Felix (FR), and sire of the winners of 51 races, and £810,197 under N.H. Rules, including JUKEBOX JIVE (FR), STUKE (GER), FARCLAS (FR), Irascible (FR), Dajuka (CZE), , Nordano (GER), World Speed (GER), Peace Maker (GER)
Stands at: Burgage Stud, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, R93 RK35, Ireland.
Contact: Victor Connolly
Telephone: +353 (0)59 9722320 or +353 (0)86 2681899
Email: victorconnolly19@gmail.com
Fee: €6,000