Persian Force emulated his outstanding sire Mehmas with a highly impressive success in the BetVictor Conditions Race at Newbury on Saturday.
Traditionally used as a stepping stone to Royal Ascot, Persian Force was never truly pressed to score by a wide margin from Holguin and make it two from two from his scintillating win in the Brocklesby.
“He is very laid back," said trainer Richard Hannon. "If only I had another five like that, I wouldn’t have to work for a living!
“He will go to the Coventry. He is one of the nicest two-year-olds we have had for a long time. He is not a horse who is running around the paddock – he behaves like good horses do. Since Canford Cliffs’ days, he is the most exciting two-year-old we have had.
“I am never really a fan of the Brocklesby – you don’t see a lot of really good horses going there. But I said what is the point of hanging onto them? May as well let him go and it has been a long time from then to now.
“This is a proper race. I know Andrew (Balding) likes his horse and I think he slightly frightened a lot of horses away today. He is a seriously good horse.”
Persian Force was bred by Tom Lacy and is a brother to last season's high-class 2yo Gubbass - he was Mehmas' first 2yo winner of the season in 2021 and subsequently won the Weatherbys Super Sprint and ran placed in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. They are out of Vida Amorosa, a Lope De Vega relation to smart sprinter Garrus.
Persian Force was purchased by us for €75,000 from Ringfort Stud as a Goffs November Foal and resold through our draft at last year's Goffs Orby Sale for €225,000 to Peter and Ross Doyle.
