Dr Zempf leads home Lyons 1-2 in Ballycorus Stakes

Dr Zempf maintained his unbeaten record at the track when winning the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown.

A winner over course and distance back in April, the three-year-old colt had too much for his elders on this occasion.

Colin Keane kept it simple on the favourite, tracking leader Pretreville before taking it up just over a furlong out. The result was never in doubt from that point, as the son of Dark Angel stretched clear of his rivals.

In what was an excellent result for the Lyons stable, Straight Answer stayed on strongly from the back of the field to snatch second on the line.

Ger Lyons, “That was good and the wheels are back on the wagon in no uncertain terms.

“I never had a doubt that he would get a mile and I was wrong. Colin said that he is strengthening up all the time. He did that really well and I would say that is his best performance. He loved the ground.

“He shows me plenty of speed at home that we could bring him back to six but Colin said don’t do that.

“I’d say his future will be in America for Peter (Brant, owner) and I’d say that is where he will win his Grade 1 around two bends.

“That was a lovely run from Straight Answer.

“We were baffled with his run in the Lacken - I’m not sure if he hit the ridges or what happened.

“Rory and Barry (Mahon) are adamant that the pedigree suggests he goes further. He hasn’t missed a day since the Lacken and he needs the mile.

“Gary said he’ll win one of those over a mile.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.