By Tom Frary
All eyes were on Flushing Meadows (Wootton Bassett) in Thursday's G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes, but it was John Oxley's North Coast (Starman) who proved clear best in Leopardstown's seven-furlong staging post. Runner-up to another Ballydoyle colt in Daytona in the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes earlier this month, the Joseph O'Brien-trained 3-1 favourite led at every step under Dylan Browne McMonagle and readily saw off the 30-100 favourite to win by six lengths.
“We felt we'd make the favourite work for it and he was aggressive and strong at the line–there was a bit left,” Joseph O'Brien said. “The obvious route is to go to The Curragh, but my gut feeling is to go straight to the National Stakes and give him a chance, as he's had four races already. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf could be for him down the line, it will suit him.”
Aidan O'Brien said of Flushing Meadows, “He didn't turn that well–he hadn't raced on a bend before and never got over to the right leg,” he explained. “Ryan could never get him back after and I'd say he's a rhythm horse who wants a strong seven. Hopefully we'll find improvement somewhere, as we think he's better than that. Maybe Joseph's horse is very good. He is a horse who does show plenty of class and I was surprised how uncoordinated he was there, but that can happen with two-year-olds and they can leave that behind. We'll give him a break now, as he had come back quick.”
Pedigree Notes
The fourth stakes winner (and group winner) for his first-season sire by Dutch Art, North Coast is a son of Treasure Coast Stakes heroine La Australiana (Australia). Her latest foal is a yearling colt by Minzaal, while the extended family features multiple group winner Mubtaker (Silver Hawk) and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac second Crystal Downs (Alleged).
Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION TYROS STAKES-G3, €60,000, Leopardstown, 7-24, 2yo, 7f 57yT, 1:32.06, y/s.
1–NORTH COAST (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Starman (GB)
1st Dam: La Australiana (SW, $107,686), by Australia (GB)
2nd Dam: Tree Chopper, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Gazayil, by Irish River (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (42,000gns
Wlg '23 TADEWE; 180,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-John C Oxley;
B-Ringfort Stud Ltd; T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Dylan Browne
McMonagle. €36,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $64,846.
Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Flushing Meadows, 131, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Hence
(Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs
John Magnier; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt; T-Aidan
O'Brien. €12,000.
3–Prospect Thunder (Ire), 131, c, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Hope
Lake (Ire), by Shamardal. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE. (28,000gns RNA Ylg '24 TATOCT; 50,000gns RNA 2yo '25
TATBRE). O-Rolline O'Callaghan; B-Yeomanstown Stud; T-A
Murray. €6,000.
Margins: 6, 8, 99. Odds: 3.00, 0.30, 25.00.
Also Ran: Flanker Jet (GB).
👀 North Coast makes all in the G3 Tyros seeing off odds-on favourite Flushing Meadows! @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/I77NP4xXym
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 24, 2025
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