Johnston savouring share of glory after first Irish dead-heat

The first dead-heat in the race’s illustrious history, it was the Middleham trainer’s first English or Irish Classic win since Attraction’s heroics of 2004.

It also came just weeks after Royal Ascot hero Namibian – his main hope for St Leger glory at Doncaster – was struck down with colic following the stable’s winnerless week at York’s Ebor festival.

Though Johnston was not at the Curragh – he is at the sales in Kentucky – his wife Deirdre indicated that the Melbourne Cup could be on the agenda.

“It feels like a year of my life has passed in the last few minutes. You couldn’t get two tougher horses than that pair, and they were racing into a strong wind in the straight,” she said after enduring an agonising wait for the photo-finish verdict.

“The Melbourne Cup was already in the melting pot for Jukebox Jury and I would say it’s high on the agenda now. Alan Spence, the horse’s owner, couldn’t be here as it it’s his daughter’s 18th birthday, so we will have to talk to him.”

Another target could be the Canadian International after Johnny Murtagh set out to make all on Johnston’s grey.

However, Eddie Ahern, deputising for St Leger-winning jockey William Buick, who had won the Yorkshire Cup in May on Duncan, never let Jukebox Jury out of his sights as odds-on favourite Fame And Glory – the Ascot Gold Cup winner – became the first to send out distress signals.

As the two combatants crossed the line, Ahern thought he had won his first Classic outright.

“I gave my horse a pat so I felt a bit stupid for an hour, but at least I didn’t get beat. Johnny even came up to me and said well done,” he said before praising Gosden’s strength in depth after the trainer’s Doncaster success with Masked Marvel.

As for Murtagh, he was elated at winning his first Irish St Leger. He has also come to savour big-race successes after leaving Aidan O’Brien’s yard last year.

“I thought he was beaten in the last 100 yards as Eddie was coming there strongly, but in all fairness to my lad, typical Mark Johnston, he fought back,” said Murtagh, who won aboard Alanaza for the Aga Khan at Doncaster last week. “It was right on the line and just on the line I felt I had my head down.”

Murtagh had earlier guided Born To Sea – a half-brother to the brilliant Sea The Stars – to a debut victory. He is 6-1 favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas.

Beaten in York’s Nunthorpe Stakes, Prohibit defied a 7lb penalty to take the Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert at Longchamp.

The King’s Stand Stakes winner was ridden by Jim Crowley who previously rode for Bingley trainer Harvey Smith.

Tim Easterby’s Hamish McGonagall was third, with Prohibit due to return to the Paris track in search of more Group One glory in the Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye on October 2.