By Tom Frary
“I'd love to win an English Guineas,” Ger Lyons said after watching TDN Rising Star Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) collect in Saturday's Listed Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2,000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown. Always travelling easily in second throughout the early stages under Colin Keane, Peter Brant's G1 Phoenix S. runner-up took control two out and held off The Acropolis (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) to reward takers of 11-10 by half a length, with a length back to fellow TDN Rising Star New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in third. Lyons was not getting carried away, however. “I do think he is a good bit shy of the favourite [Native Trail] at the moment, but at least that's the first box ticked,” he said reflecting on the Apr. 30 Newmarket Classic. “He parked in front–he only does enough and is one that wants to be arriving late on the scene. He had a good blow after, so there's plenty of improvement but if he's going for the big one there needs to be. We were trying to fit a square peg in a round hole over six last year, so I never thought going seven or a mile would be a problem. He has a good temperament and was just running a bit free early on.”
Dr Zempf's stamina has to be taken on trust on pedigree, being a son of the six-furlong G3 Prix Eclipse winner Souvenir Delondres (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who is a half to the Listed Land O'Burns Fillies' S.-placed I'm So Glad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}). Related to the GII Schuylerville S. winner Distinct Habit (Distinct Pro) and the dual listed-winning sprinter and G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise runner-up Terroir (Ire) (Fairy King), the dam has a connection with the GI Preakness S. hero Red Bullet (Unbridled) and this stable's G3 Solonaway S. winner Brendan Brackan (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}). Souvenir Delondres also has a 2-year-old
filly by Kingman (GB) and a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
BALLYLINCH STUD RED ROCKS 2,000 GUINEAS TRIAL S.-Listed, €42,500, Leopardstown, 4-2, 3yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:30.06, gd.
1–DR ZEMPF (GB), 131, c, 3, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Souvenir Delondres (Fr) (GSW-Fr, $138,754), by Siyouni (Fr)
2nd Dam: Dilag (Ire), by Almutawakel (GB)
3rd Dam: Terracotta Hut (Ire), by Habitat
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (420,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Peter M Brant; B-Stratford Place Stud (GB); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €25,500. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 5-2-1-0, $104,677.
2–The Acropolis (Ire), 131, c, 3, Churchill (Ire)–Hairy Rocket (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (€140,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV). O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Frank Dunne (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €8,500.
3–New Energy (Ire), 131, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–For Joy (GB), by Singspiel (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE. (£65,000 2yo '21 TATGOR). O-John Lavery; B-Anne Hallinan & John O'Connor (IRE); T-Sheila Lavery. €4,250.
Margins: HF, 1, 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 12.00, 5.50.
Also Ran: Exquisite Acclaim (Ire), Glounthaune (Ire), Howth (Ire), Morning Soldier (Ire), McTigue (Ire).
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