Henry II Goes to Vent De Force

With all the big cats away, Vent de Force took full advantage to creep into the June 18 G1 Gold Cup scene with an all-the-way first black-type success under Richard Hughes. After winning the 14-furlong Melrose H. at York’s Ebor meeting in August, the bay finished second in the G2 Prix Chaudenay over an extra furlong at Longchamp on Arc weekend and was then 11th on testing ground in the latter venue’s G1 Prix Royal-Oak later in October. No match for Mizzou (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) but clear second-best when staying on from behind in Ascot’s G3 Sagaro S. on his comeback 
Apr. 29, he was able to dictate here in a change of tactics and after seeing off all challengers in midstretch was gone beyond reach by the time Trip To Paris was extricated from his pocket. “He did it the hard way from the front and that proves you can ride him where you like,” trainer Hughie Morrison commented. “Hopefully that will put him spot on for Ascot and that’s where he’ll go, providing he doesn’t have any blips in the next few weeks.”

Thursday, Sandown, Britain 
CANTOR FITZGERALD INVESTMENT TRUSTS HENRY II S.-G3, £65,000, SNP, 5-28, 4yo/up, 16f 78yT, 3:37.86, gd/fm. 
1–VENT DE FORCE (GB), 126, c, 4, by Hurricane Run (Ire) 
     1st Dam: Capriolla (GB), by In the Wings (GB) 
     2nd Dam: Seren Quest (GB), by Rainbow Quest 
     3rd Dam: Serenesse (Ire), by Habat (Ire) 
O-The Fairy Story Partnership; B-Deepwood Farm 
Stud (GB); T-Hugh Morrison; J-Richard Hughes. 
GSP-Fr, £36,862. Lifetime Record: 11-4-2-1, 
£148,429. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the 
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 
2–Trip To Paris (Ire), 126, g, 4, Champs Elysees (GB)– 
La Grande Zoa (Ire), by Fantastic Light. (37,000gns 
wnlg ‘11 TATDEC; 35,000gns RNA yrl ‘12 TATOCT; 
20,000gns 2yo ‘13 TATGNS). O-La Grange 
Partnership; B-Paul & T J Monaghan (Ire); T-Ed 
Dunlop. £13,975. 
3–Aussie Reigns (Ire), 126, g, 5, Aussie Rules–Rohain 
(Ire), by Singspiel (Ire). (€9,000 wnlg ‘10 GOFNOV; 
€36,000 yrl ‘11 GOFSPT). O-Nick Peacock; B-S 
Connolly (Ire); T-William Knight. £6,994. 
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, HF. Odds: 1.50, 4.00, 50.00. 
Also Ran: Forever Now (GB), Simenon (Ire), Forgotten Voice (Ire), Alwilda (GB). Scratched: High Jinx (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the brisnet.com PPs. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.