Society Rock provided a 50/1 shock on the final-day of this year’s Royal Ascot meeting in the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes.

Society Rock (4c Rock of Gibraltar – High Society by Key of Luck) exploded from the pack to reel in Australian sprinter Star Witness who had sailed clear at the furlong pole.  

Runner-up in the 2010 King’s Stand, Society Rock went one better on Saturday to register a career-high half-length victory over Monsieur Chevalier (Chevalier) and Star Witness (Starcraft).  Fellow Australian bred sprinter Elzaam (Redoute’s Choice) ran a cracking fourth.  

“He’s been slightly forgotten after his second here last year,” trainer James Fanshawe said.  “He has taken his time to fire this year but his work has been excellent.”

Society Rock won the 2009 Tattersalls 2YO Millions at Newmarket and he hit the ground running last year in the LR Pavilion Stakes and backed that up with second to Starspangledbanner in this event twelve months ago.

“A lot of people doubted him but this was the target all along,” jockey Pat Cosgrave revealed.  “It was a bit tight for the first furlong then I got the splits at the right time and he picked up good.”

Society Rock was a 75,000gns buy for BBA Ireland (as agent) at the 2008 Tattersalls October yearling sale.  He is by Coolmore shuttler Rock of Gibraltar and his dam High Society was a Listed winner at Leopardstown and Santa Anita.  The mare has a 2yo colt by Dylan Thomas.

Star Witness (Starcarft) was far from disgraced in his two outings at Royal Ascot.  He will stay for the G1 July Cup at Newmarket before retiring to Widden Stud.  

“The horse has run very well but he’s just found the ground a little testing,” trainer Danny O’Brien said.  “He hit the front full of running and, in good going, he would have really let go.

“We’ve got three weeks until Newmarket and he’s thrived since he’s been here.  Royal Ascot has been fantastic.  They’ve really looked after us and we would love to come back here and win a race.”