Joel Stakes: Zeus Olympios proves too good for Opera Ballo
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Fri 26 Sep 2025
Zeus Olympios remained unbeaten with a brilliant success from Opera Ballo in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket.
Karl Burke’s son of Night Of Thunder arrived with a growing reputation after a taking win at Haydock earlier this month and in his toughest task to date marked himself out as a colt firmly on the rise when mastering his rivals on the Rowley Mile.
With Spigot Lodge stablemate Flight Plan cutting out the early running in the BoyleSports-sponsored Group Two, Clifford Lee had the keen-going 2-1 second-favourite hot on his heels, with Charlie Appleby’s highly-touted Opera Ballo also in close proximity.
William Buick moved up stylishly to make his challenge aboard Opera Ballo with two furlongs to run, but Lee had the move covered and soon slipped Zeus Olympios into top gear, with the colt responding instantly to surge past the 4-5 favourite inside the final furlong before extending the advantage to two and a quarter lengths at the finish.
Burke said: “I’m very happy, obviously. He’s a beautiful horse and I knew he’d strengthened and gone forward from Haydock.
“Interestingly he wasn’t heavier, but to my eye physically he looked stronger and he’s obviously a horse with a big future.
“I wouldn’t say he’s taken us by surprise, we’ve always thought he was a lovely horse but he was such a weak horse as well. He arrived to us from Roger Varian’s as a bit of a shell and then he got a bit of injury, but so often when those immature two-year-olds get injuries, as long as they’re not major it’s a blessing in disguise as you have to lock them up and all they do is grow and strengthen.
“I think he has to be a very good horse for the favourite to get first run on us today and for us to then come and cut him down.”
Zeus Olympios does not hold any further entries this season and when asked whether he could consider supplementing his charge for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot, Burke added: “I’d have to speak to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, I don’t know.
“It comes a bit quick and he obviously has Rosallion for that, I can’t see they’d take each other on and I’ve always said our horse is very much a horse for next year.
“I’m sure next season we’ll start by aiming at the Lockinge and go from there.”
Related posts
Five horses to watch at Cheltenham this week
Dave Nevison's Wednesday tips at Kempton: "he looks very well in"
Saturday ante-post tips: brace of 20-1 chances among five bets
Philip Hobbs and Johnson White 2026-27 Jumps season stable tour
Five changes made at Cheltenham ahead of the 2026-27 season
Todays top offer
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets + Money Back as a Free Bet if 2nd to SP Fav with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&C's apply. 18+. IRE/NI & UK online only. Max Free Bet £/€10. Win or win part of e/w outright singles. 5+ runners. 1st bet on each race. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. In event of a dead heat, offer won’t apply. Applies to First Past the Post result. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. Acc & Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
Claim Now
Featured offers
Get 50% back up to £50 with QuinnBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses as a Free Bet up to £50, valid for 7 days. 18+ GambleAware.
Bet £20 and Get £40 in Free Bets with Unibet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
18+. GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £20 debit card or instant banking transfer deposit. Place a £20+ bet on Horse Racing at min odds 2/5 (1.4) each leg for 4x £10 Free Bets (can be used on Racing Bet Builder). Claim within 30 days. Valid for Horse Racing only. Geographical restrictions and Further T&C’s apply
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with talkSPORT BET
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New Customers. Opt in, deposit and bet £10+ on any horse racing markets within 7 days of sign up. Get 3 x £10 Free Bets for set horse racing markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. 18+ GambleAware
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New UK customers. Place a £10 real money bet at min. 2.0 odds within 5 days of deposit. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 Single, 2 Accas & 1 Bet Builder (min. 3 selections each). Excludes cashout, E/W, Multis, Ineligible Markets & Odds Boosts. Credited after bet settlement. 7-day expiry. T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved