Society Rock retired to stud in Ireland

James Fanshawe’s top-class sprinter Society Rock has run his last race.

It was announced at the weekend the dual Group One-winner would be standing at Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland in 2014 but Fanshawe had hoped to get the sprinter to Ascot for Champions Day.

Society Rock was last seen finishing second in the July Cup but suffered a fall when being prepared for the Sprint Cup at Haydock which left him with concussion.

A statement posted on www.jamesfanshawe.com read: “Society Rock is improving all the time and we are very pleased with his progress.

“Although he wont race again as we have obviously run out of time, you will have read he is due to retire next year to the Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland.

“If his character comes out in his progeny they will be so tough. He was like a tiger in a race and the rougher it was, the angrier and more determined he was to win.

“He has always been the most wonderful horse to have anything to do with – he knew he was good and had that air about him.

“We will certainly miss him when he goes.”

Society Rock won six of his 23 races, amassing more than €1m in prize-money.