Zeus Olympios testing big-race credentials against Opera Ballo

The sky could be the limit for the unbeaten Zeus Olympios, who is out to enhance his growing reputation in the BoyleSports Daily Racing Rewards Joel Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

Unraced at two, Karl Burke’s son of Night Of Thunder made light work of his first foray into Group company in the Superior Mile at Haydock earlier this month and bids to end his season on a high, as he continues to scale the one-mile division.

“He’s a lovely horse who looks to be improving,” said Burke.

“Whether the track will play to his advantage or not, I’m not sure, but it will be his final run of season and I’m looking forward to seeing him run.

“It’s the logical spot after the win at Haydock. Who knows how much more there is to come, but he’s a late-maturing horse with not that many runs under his belt so hopefully he can keep improving and give us plenty to look forward to.”

Zeus Olympios is one of two in the race for Burke, alongside Flight Plan, who had both Dylan Cunha’s reopposing Prague (fifth and who won this race last year) and Tom Dascombe’s Snow Master (sixth) behind when successful on Merseyside.

He will face a stiffer examination of his big-race credentials in facing off against Charlie Appleby’s Opera Ballo, however, with the exciting son of Ghaiyyath not seen since securing his second Listed success of the campaign on the July course in the summer.

Soft ground has scuppered potential outings both home and abroad since, but with the form of his wins at Sandown and Newmarket franked during his time waiting on the sidelines at Moulton Paddocks, a dry week in the heartland of British racing has enabled the talented colt to reappear with hopes high.

Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “We have missed a couple of engagements at Goodwood and Deauville with Opera Ballo due to the ground and we hope he gets a sound surface here.

“His home work has been great and he has done very well physically over the summer.

“This is his biggest test to date and it’s a competitive race, but we are confident of his chances.”

Opera Ballo will be assisted in his quest by Appleby-trained stablemate Victory Dance, with John and Thady Gosden’s French Derby third Detain completing an intriguing field of seven dropping back in distance.