Zeus Olympios served a real reminder of his quality when leading home a Karl Burke one-two in the Juddmonte Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot.
The son of Night Of Thunder headed into 2026 unbeaten and with a growing reputation, but was winning for the first time this year following some creditable performances in elite company at a mile.
Jockey Sam James always had the four-year-old near the front of proceedings in a race that appeared to be run at a steady tempo.
It was a move that ensured the 7-2 chance was in the ideal position to put the race to bed in the home straight, sprinting clear of stablemate Holloway Boy for a half-length success.
Burke was at Newmarket, from where he said: “I’m delighted with that and I still think he’s got a great chance of being a Group One horse, we always thought that. He got better as the year went on last year and hopefully he can carry on that trajectory again this year as well.
“He got a great ride. The idea was to go forward and we did early, but then he accepted a lead off the others. I was concerned for 100 yards or so, but then they kicked on again and he is a high-class horse.
“Holloway Boy ran an absolute blinder as well. He loves Ascot and has a lot of ability, but only just does enough.”
Zeus Olympios looks set for a return to the highest level, potentially in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 16.
“I will have to have a chat with Liam O’Rourke, but I’d say there’s a big possibility that’s where he’ll go next,” the trainer added.
“I think the horse is just getting physically better and stronger. It was probably my fault at Ascot last time as I told Cliff (Lee) to ride him for a turn of foot as he shows that at home, but two (furlongs) out he was going backwards and then all he did was stay on.
“This time we were determined to go forward and I think if they’d gone quicker he’d probably have won easier.”
James told Sky Sports Racing: “I was a bit confused as I expected Julie Camacho’s horse (Naqeeb) to go on having run over further and I thought he would go a good gallop and I would just follow him.
“I got a freebie for a couple of furlongs in front and felt I was going a nice enough gallop for my horse and then David Probert (on Seagulls Eleven) decided we weren’t going quick enough and took it on.
“I was in two minds whether to keep going with them as usually when that happens, even if it is midway through the race, they can fade late on, so I was quite happy to let them take me to the two-furlong pole.
“He’s a good horse and we obviously think highly of him and he was dropping back to a Group Two. I’m glad to be given the opportunity on him and Karl has been very good and so has the owner and I’m glad I’ve paid them back with a winner.
“When you win a Group Two dropping back (in grade) it will hopefully give him the confidence again.
“If we just make a bit more use of him over a mile I think he will definitely win a Group One and maybe we just needed to be riding him a bit more forward because all he seems to be doing now, as opposed to last year when he was showing that real turn of foot, is galloping.
“He’s danced all the dances this year and hasn’t run badly and hopefully now he can go back into Group One company and do the job.”