Proud And Regal leads home his rivals under Gavin Ryan© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien's dominance in the Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes was ended by his son Donnacha, as Proud And Regal made all under Gavin Ryan.
The last eight renewals of this Group 3 contest were won by O'Brien senior and he was expected make it nine this evening, saddling the well-backed 15/8 favourite (from 5/2) Age Of Kings
A winner on debut at the Curragh last month, Proud And Regal was sent off the 11/4 second favourite and had all his rivals in trouble with over a furlong to race.
The chestnut victor was ridden and kept up the gallop inside the final furlong, coming home a length-and-a-quarter to the good. Hellsing (11/2) came through to take second, while Age Of Kings faded in the closing stages and finished a neck back in third.
"He's still very raw and nearly went too slow for his own good because he's so lazy in front. If he can get a lead off a strong pace he'll be twice the horse," the winning trainer revealed.
"He really improved at home since his debut and I think he's quite a classy horse. There is a lot more in there and I'd be fairly confident if something came to him he'd go on again.
"He'll stay a mile and handles that fast ground so he's an exciting one.
"The Futurity and National Stakes looks an obvious path. We'll see how he comes out of it and we could skip the Futurity and go straight for the National Stakes."
Proud And Regal is now a 20/1 chance (from 33s) with Paddy Power for the 2023 Epsom Derby.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
