Melbourne Cup aspirant Bondi Beach has had to settle for third on his return in a Group Three race at Leopardstown.

Last year's St Leger runner-up, Bondi Beach was the 5-4 favourite for the Ballyroan Stakes (2400m) despite giving weight to all his rivals, and was far from disgraced at his first start since May.

The Jim Bolger-trained Stellar Mass finished strongly to beat Amelia by half a length with Bondi Beach another 1-1/2 lengths third.

Owned in partnership by Lloyd Williams and Coolmore, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Bondi Beach was unplaced in last year's Melbourne Cup but won two stakes races in April and May.