‘I thought he was a bit special’ - Princess Zoe’s close relation fetches €100,000 at Goffs December Sale

There was a late plot twist during the second session of the Goffs December National Hunt Sale when Joey Logan went to €100,000 to secure a close relation to the Group 1-winning Flat performer Princess Zoe. 

The six-figure colt is by the same sire as Tony Mullins’ Prix du Cadran heroine, namely the star-crossed Burgage Stud resident Jukebox Jury. The youngster is the first foal out of Palace Sunshine, a Best Solution half-sister to Princess Zoe. He was co-bred by Stephen Lanigan O’Keeffe and sold through his Hobby Horse Stud. 

“We waited all day for him,” said Logan. “He’s a very well-bred foal and a beautiful mover. I loved him from the moment I saw him. He’ll come home to Grangeclare Stud and hopefully he’ll come back to be resold here at the Goffs Arkle Sale. 

“He has the pedigree and the physical, so let’s hope he’s lucky. Sadly there won’t be many more Jukebox Jury foals now. They’ve been selling so well all week, and it’s been really hard to get the nice ones. I just thought he was a bit special.” 

Joey Logan signs for Hobby Horse Stud's Jukebox Jury coltCredit: Sophie Webber Photography

As well as Princess Zoe’s contributions, which include the Sagaro Stakes and a Punchestown maiden hurdle, the page contains plenty of German black type. Palace Sunshine is also a half-sister to Group 2 winner and German Derby runner-up Palace Prince, while their dam is a sibling to the Group scorers Pepperstorm, Peppercorn and Peppershot. 

“This is getting to be a bit of a habit,” said Lanigan O'Keeffe. “At the last sale here I got €120,000 for a Jukebox Jury, and now this. I was one of the people behind getting Jukebox Jury to Ireland [in 2018]. He's been so good to us in so many ways. 

“He was a lovely, kind horse and he got horses that were lovely to handle and he has done me such a good turn. I’m very grateful to him. Hobby Horse Stud is me, named to reflect my financial success in this particular sphere. 

“I went to Germany to buy the dam, a half-sister to Princess Zoe, as a two-year-old in training, and I had the dilemma, do I race her or cover her. Jukebox Jury was getting on, so I covered her and she had this one, her first foal, and she’s back in foal to the stallion – well she was yesterday!”

He added: “You have to reflect on the genius of John O'Connor in terms of selecting stallions. When you think that he sourced Bob Back, King's Theatre, Shantou and Jukebox Jury – it’s quite amazing.” 

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