Ethical Code just held on in a bunch finish to make a winning debut in the fillies maiden at Dundalk, moving James Ryan one ahead in the ding-dong battle for the apprentice title.

Ballydoyle filly Takemetothemoon went to post a 10/11 favourite in the seven furlong contest but folded a furlong-and-a-half from home after being to the fore early.

The Ger Lyons-trained Ethical Code hit the front there but was strongly pressed in the closing stages.

She just held on by a short-head from Mveve with the same margin back to Cradle Of Love in third. There was a further head back to the fourth-placed Carolina Jetstream

The 7/1 winner is a daughter of Justify and is a half-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Requinto. They are out of Group 1 winner Damson.

Assistant Shane Lyons said: "I'd like to pay tribute to Declan Quirke at home - he's over in America with our Breeders' Cup horse (Magnum Force) - and Michael, they are two boys that ride out for us. She was a little bit nervous early doors and they have done a great job all summer.

"She is starting to show us plenty in the last two months and we have just taken our time and let her come to us - let her tell us when she was ready.

"It just happened that this race presented itself. We love to get a horse to have a run as a two-year-old before we put them away.

"We would have been disappointed if she didn't win today, she has shown us plenty.

"She did (travel) and I said to James I was a little bit disappointed she didn't go away and he said she was as green as grass. She has never been away from home.

"A good friend got her as a weanling over in America, so that is how we got her.

"The depth of that race was unbelievable.

"I think she'll get a mile and she is exciting over the winter. She is just one of those other fillies in the yard and we have plenty of them."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)