Bondi Beach was made to work harder than odds of 1-9 suggested he would in the Coolmore Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.

With Zannda pulled out, last year’s St Leger runner-up had just two rivals to beat and was anchored in rear by Seamus Heffernan as Silwana cut out the running.

Toe The Line took it up early in the straight and appeared to be travelling better than the market leader, but Heffernan eventually coaxed Bondi Beach into putting his best foot forward and drove him out to a one-and-a-half-length success.

“When he gets to the front he idles. He settled well and it was a very tactical race. The one in front didn’t go very quick,” said Joseph O’Brien, assistant to his father, Aidan.

“I don’t know whether he’ll go for the Saval Beg before the Gold Cup or straight to Ascot.

“You’d be very happy with that.”