Clifford Lee believes Zeus Olympios has a great chance of securing a breakthrough Group One success in the Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.
The Karl Burke-trained four-year-old has so far come up just short in his previous in the BOYLE Sports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
However, the son of Night Of Thunder will enter the mile contest on the back of a win after adding a second Group Two victory to his name in last month's Juddmonte Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot.
And following that success Lee believes that Zeus Olympios can take the required step forward needed to succeed at the highest level.
Lee said: “He is up against a couple of horses that have proven themselves at Group One level, but he ran a blinder at Ascot last time to win the Summer Mile. I worked him last week and he actually worked fantastic. He is clearly improving with each run.
“I almost feel like when he was ready to run at the beginning of the year that he just needed it as he come forward from it a lot. When you try and get a Group One it is not easy as you are often up against horses that are already proven at that level.
“We’ve always thought he would be a Group One horse given the way he won the Group Two at Newmarket at the back end of last year as he picked up nicely that day.”
While Group races in France can often become tactical affairs Lee feels that Zeus Olympios is well equipped to cope with whatever way the race pans out.
He added “I thought he ran well when I last rode him in the Queen Anne. Ten Bob Tony picked up nicely from where he was, and I think that horse was always going to win that day. I could have probably finished closer if I was more bullish on him.
“Going into the race on Sunday I’m sure we will just keep it simple, but if nothing goes forward then I will go forward His form stacks up well with them on Sunday and I’m happy with his draw in stall six. Hopefully things can fall right for him in France and we get a bit of luck on our side.”
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