Zeus Olympios proves too good for Opera Ballo in Joel Stakes

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.