Florida Bay upstages Aix La Chapelle in Tyros Stakes

Aidan O’Brien landed another Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown – but it was Florida Bay rather than Aix La Chapelle who won the day.

All eyes were on Aix La Chapelle, who would have started favourite for the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot but was withdrawn after rearing in the stalls.

Easy to back in this Group Three, Ryan Moore was urging the Justify colt along before three out and the writing was on the wall from there, although to his credit he did run on at the finish to be third.

Up front Ballydoyle second-string Florida Bay – beaten at odds-on last time out but a handy winner before that – was full of running under Wayne Lordan and while 6-4 favourite Folsom Blues flew home he was a length and a quarter adrift at the finish.

O’Brien said of the 7-2 winner: “Very happy. The last day, they went too fast. They got ganged up and they went too hard. Wayne gave him a good ride. He let him bowl along and he won nicely.

“He’s not slow. Even a mile could be far enough for him. He could be a horse for the Futurity.”