Credo Star, left, battles with The Nutcracker in Wexford© Photo Healy Racing
On a historic day at Wexford the runners in the opening two mile maiden hurdle raced left-handed for the first time at the track and it was Credo Star who put her name in lights with a victory.
She went right down on her nose upon landing after the first hurdle but recovered under Johnny Burke to race in rear of mid-division.
With just over half a mile to go she tacked on the back of the main group and was pushed along into fourth on the turn for home.
At the second last she was in pursuit of the leader The Nutcracker and took a narrow advantage at the final hurdle. She wasn't entirely fluent at that obstacle and that enabled The Nutcracker to rally and get her head back in front on the run-in.
However, close home Credo Star asserted and was three parts of a length to the good at the line. She was returned at 13/2 while The Nutcracker went off the 11/4 favourite. Sparkalark at 16/1 grabbed third.
Johnny Burke said: "She galloped through the first a bit and landed out on her head and got a fright and was a bit careful but she winged four hurdles and got me into it. She won snug to be fair.
"Peter said she showed plenty of pace last year and is after strengthening up after a break. She probably won from an impossible position. That might put her above average.
"I give the track a thumbs-up. It's a bit tight, a bit sharp but its summer racing and probably ideal. I definitely prefer it to the older way anyway. The finish is much better and it's nice to have jumps into the last two furlongs. I definitely like it. It's good ground; they've done a good job with it."
Trainer Peter Fahey said: "It is a great start for the new syndicate (Sport Racing Club) after they came to me last year. I think this is their 20th year on the go and you couldn't have asked for a better start.
"Last year she was probably a little bit weak in her bumpers and she wasn't finishing them out. Today she really finished it out. Early on Johnny said she got a bit outpaced and jumped a bit careful but once she warmed into she was grand.
"Once she jumped the fourth last Johnny was confident enough that she would keep going. We will see what the handicapper does, she will probably go for a handicap some place and she is a really summer horse.
"I think it rode well. Going the other way I don't think a horse would have come from behind as much as she did. From the top of the hill there was a lot of them involved but once they jumped the second they had fiddled out of it. It makes it more testing."
Jockey Andrew Lynch said: "It rides a grand track. When they swing in it is just a bit open, it was for my mare (The Nutcracker) anyway."
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
