Sunday 19 June 2011

Ascot Review - Golden Jubilee Grabbed By Society


Society Rock, last year's Golden Jubilee Stakes runner-up, went one place better at Royal Ascot to spring a 25-1 shock in the Group One sprint and initiate a big-race double for James Fanshawe.

Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes second Star Witness looked the likely winner when quickening to lead inside the last of the six furlongs, but he was unable to sustain that effort.

Society Rock was patiently ridden towards the rear of the far-side group but he finished off the race best under Pat Cosgrave to score by half a length from Monsieur Chevalier, with Star Witness third.

The winning trainer, who went on to take the Wokingham, said: "He has never raced before on the ground, but he obviously likes it. It's great for Pat as he rode a fantastic race.

"It's fantastic this horse has come good. I'm absolutely thrilled. He was slightly forgotten last year when he was second, but he was never really right afterwards. He's taken his time to fire this spring but his last two bits of work were very good."

Cosgrave added: "A lot of people have doubted this horse on his first two runs this year, but James knew this was the plan. He handled the ground well and showed what a good horse he is.

"I ended up getting the splits at the right time. All Group Ones are nice, but it's nice to get a first Royal Ascot winner on the board."


Richard Hannon's Monsieur Chevalier was 11th in the King's Stand and this effort represented a huge step forward.

Assistant trainer Richard Hannon jnr said: "That was a huge run and it gives us all the big sprints now as options. He was off a long time, but that was probably a career-best effort."

Danny O'Brien was proud of Star Witness, adding: "He's run two great races this week. He was perhaps a bit unlucky on Tuesday and today the wet ground hasn't helped him. We came here with three races on the agenda. The July Cup is the last one."