Dr Zempf kept his Classic dreams alive with a workmanlike success in today's Listed Ballylinch Stud 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown, scoring for trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane.

Top rated at 111 following a Group 1 Phoenix Stakes runner-up effort last year, the son of Dark Angel was today the well backed 11/10 favourite and held on to repel the challenge of runner-up The Acropolis by half a length.

Paddy Power later trimmed Dr Zempf to 33/1 (from 50s) for the English 2,000 Guineas, with Lyons reporting “Trials are good and he's won, you can only beat what's in front of you. We won't be breaking out champagne or anything but we're happy that the first thing is done.

“He's still in the pot for the Guineas, if we have a Guineas colt it's him. He has a run under his belt now and we can go to Newmarket at the end of the month if we need to but we're a long way off a horse rated 120.

“There should be plenty of improvement and there needs to be for where he is going. I'll talk to Peter (Brant, owner) now and and see what he thinks.”

He added “I don't know how informative it was as a race, he should be winning and he probably should be winning it easier than that but it's job done.

“That's what he tends to do at home as well, he just does enough. We've left a good bit to work on and he needs to improve but Colin said he went for his girths at the two pole.

“We'll see how he comes out of this one. I didn't expect to get this run into him this weekend, thinking it would be heavy ground, so we are ahead of the game and have options.

“I personally think we need to improve to keep going down this route but that's what these trials are about. A mile is not a problem to him, he just doesn't need to be left in front that quick, he's one that wants to come late.”

Quotes from Gary Carson