Society Rock

Society Rock ran a cracker to take second place behind Starspangledbanner in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday. James Fanshawe’s colt was drawn in stall 13 and was the second widest of the 14 horses that came over of the near side. He settled in the rear of that group and he was about third-last when they went past the three-furlong marker. He got checked a little in his run coming through, but once he got in the clear he showed a fine turn of foot to just catch the American horse Kinsale King for second place.

This was a really good effort from the son of Rock Of Gibralter, who was stepping into Group company for the first time. He looked like a potentially high class sprinter when he won a listed race over this course and distance on his debut this season - the same race that his trainer James Fanshawe won with Sir Gerry before he finished third in this race two years ago - and he did well to finish second here. He was still two lengths off the winner, Starspangledbanner, but that horse could be very good and he had the stands rail to race against, whereas Society Rock raced away from the rail the whole way. The form of the race looks solid, this was the biggest field ever to go to post for the race, with 24 runners, and it was not short on class either, as half of the runners had won at Group 1 level somewhere in the world coming into this.

Connections plan to take on Starspangledbanner again in the July Cup, which will obviously be a difficult task, but Society Rock still has plenty of scope for improvement, he is only three and this was only seventh run. He should be worth following.

19th June 2010

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