Ascot: Sea Siren, Society Rock among multiple contenders in 18-horse Diamond Jubilee

The closing card of the 2012 Royal Ascot meet featured the first appearance outside Australia of superstar sprinter Black Caviar, but no such electricity surrounds this year’s final day. The Saturday card is headed as usual by the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, a six-furlong dash that drew no horse remotely as interesting as the hulking, undefeated Australian mare, though another Australian, Sea Siren, is part of the 18-horse field.

The 6-year-old Society Rock is back for another try. He won the Group 1 Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot in 2011, but could only finish fifth of 14 in Black Caviar’s desperate victory last year in the Diamond Jubilee. Society Rock is in good form again now, though, winning a Group 2 sprint at York on May 15 to start his 2013 campaign.

Gordon Lord Byron, who made a fruitless trip to Dubai this past winter, finished third behind Society Rock in the York race and has a right to improve, but the fast ground found Thursday at Ascot might not suit a horse whose best win came in heavy French going last fall.

Sea Siren, the Australian, has lost six straight since winning a Group 1 last October, but might enjoy fast going more than some of the locals. Also in the race is an American shipper, Havelock, who would need a career-best performance to contend.