Silver Surfer secured a deserved breakthrough victory with a gutsy performance in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

Gavin Ryan was soon prominent on the 4/1 in the six furlong contest but he came under pressure two furlongs from home as front-runner Shoebox King got them off the bridle.

The Donnacha O'Brien-trained son of Caravaggio stuck to his task well though and once switched to the rail he ran on inside the final furlong to get up close home and score by half a length.

Silver Surfer was making his fifth start and had been runner-up on his previous three outings.

“He had a few good runs behind nice horses. Blinkers might have helped him and definitely the step up to six. It was nice for him to get his head in front,” said O'Brien.

“They went past him and it looked a furlong out like he was going to fade but once Gavin got him down the rail he took off again so I think seven furlongs is probably within his range as well.

“We'll step up in class now. I think he's definitely at stakes level and I'd imagine we'll find a six furlong race somewhere.”