Fanshawe could be double-handed in Diamond Jubilee

Could we see Deacon Blues back at the scene of his last triumph at Ascot two weeks tomorrow? Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe could have three big hopes heading to Royal Ascot the week after next.

Society Rock, winner of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in 2011 and a fast-finishing fifth in last year’s race, just two lengths behind the winner, Black Caviar, after completely fluffing the start, will look to win the race for a second time two weeks tomorrow.

He also won last year’s Betfred Sprint Cup, so he chalked up a QIPCO British Champions Series Sprint in each of the last two seasons.

High Jinx, meanwhile, runner-up in two Long Distance races last year, heads for the Gold Cup and must have an excellent chance over an extreme distance that should play to his strengths.

His third stable star, Deacon Blues, has not been ruled out of joining Society Rock in the Diamond Jubilee, race three in the Sprint category.

He was last seen on the track when running out a deeply impressive winner of the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Sprint on QIPCO British Champions Day in October 2011.

He sustained a serious tendon injury early last year and James Fanshawe has brought him along very slowly since he came back into training in March of this year.

Fanshawe told the Racing Post: "Deacon Blues has been trained as if he is going to Royal Ascot, but whether we get there or not I’m not sure.

"It will be a decision that will be taken closer to the race.

"The two imponderables are whether he is going to be ready for a race of that calibre and we already know he has to have a bit of juice in the ground.

"Having had the problem he’s had, he wouldn’t want to be going on very firm ground.

"Society Rock goes on any ground. It was rock hard when he won the Betfred Sprint and on the slow side when he won the Golden Jubilee the year before.

"The main thing is keeping him in one piece, but he is in good shape."