“When she came into me I said 'we'll have to go early with this one' due to her size,” revealed Willie McCreery after Ickworth proved her trainer's thinking to be spot on with success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Dundalk.

Billy Lee 's mount went off a 5/1 shot as the money came for All The Trees (7/4 into 5/4 favourite). The market-leader didn't live up to her billing as she managed to beat only one home.

Up front Godolphin's Ickworth upstaged Moments Linger by three parts of a length.

“She has a huge bottom on her and she's all pushing from behind. She's trying to grow at the minute a little bit," further reflected McCreery.

“She was very forward from day one, very sharp into her stride, and this was always the target. She loved the surface.

“We'll keep pushing on early with her. There wasn't a blow out of her there and she's a sharp little divil.

“The Listed race up the Curragh over five could be a target. The dam was a very good mare in Argentina and I'm delighted to get a winner for the operation. It's great to get on the board at the start of the year.

“I hope she doesn't do what the filly last year did (Jungle Jane — not run since). Hopefully Jungle Jane will be running again in a month or so. Hopefully this one can run a bit more often than her.”

(GC & EM)