'Your whole year is built around her - it helps you get through the bad days'

Joey Sheridan says he is always looking forward to the next day he gets to ride Princess Zoe, and the Tipperary rider is counting down the days to renew his partnership with the classy mare in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Sheridan first sat on the daughter of Jukebox Jury to win a premier handicap at the 2020 Galway festival. It was just eight weeks later the pair surpassed that achievement when charging down the Longchamp straight to win the Group 1 Prix du Cadran and give the jockey the biggest day of his career.

Sheridan has been in the saddle on all her outings since bar one, including when runner-up behind Subjectivist in last year’s Gold Cup, and she bounced back to form when gamely landing the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot last month.

The seven-year-old is now a general 12-1 chance for the Gold Cup on June 16 and Sheridan says the presence of a mare like Princess Zoe in his career helps him get through the tough days.

“Your whole year is nearly built around her. You’re always looking forward to the next day. It helps you get through the bad days,” he said. “It's what you dream of ever since you wanted to be a jockey. It’s an exciting time so hopefully all goes well.

“She’s in great form thankfully. I’ve been down and sat on her since Ascot the last day, Tony [Mullins] has her spot on. She travelled back from that race very well, she came back and was bouncing around the field.”

Princess Zoe and Joey Sheridan win the Prix du CadranCredit: Edward Whitaker

Sheridan was particularly impressed with the attitude and turn of foot Princess Zoe showed in the Sagaro and reckons Mullins has the mare in the best possible shape.

He said: “She quickened up well. It’s not as clear to see on the TV as it felt for me, but she had to quicken to get to that gap, and for a mare who stays 2m4f and is a proper stayer, the way she quickened through that gap really impressed me.

“Tony’s doing a brilliant job with her, he has her in top shape. That was evident when she won the Group 3, she beat good horses that day. She’ll face tougher opposition in the Gold Cup but she’s there with her chance.”

While the prospect of adding Royal Ascot glory to your CV would excite any young jockey, Sheridan is just thankful for the opportunity connections have given him to ride a horse like Princess Zoe, and hopes he can repay the faith next month.

He continued: “I can’t thank Paddy Kehoe and Philomena [Crampton] enough for keeping me on her. I’m still a 3lb claimer so it’s nice to repay their faith.

“I’m extremely lucky so early in my career that I’ve come across horses like her. Between Sceptical and now Zoe, these are the horses you dream about riding as a jockey. There are people who have been riding for years that have never come across horses like her. I can’t thank connections enough.”

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