SECRET Satire (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) sprang a 22/1 surprise in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday.

Despite racing quite keenly in the early stages, Secret Satire kept on strongly to beat Francophone (Charlie Johnston/Joe Fanning) by two lengths. Classical Song (Ralph Beckett/) was a further half length behind in third.

The other story of the race was the poor effort of hot favourite Friendly Soul, who would not settle and failed to handle the track, hanging badly left off the bend and eventually eased after lugging on to the stands rail. She was impressive when winning at Newmarket in the Pretty Polly Stakes, and she is surely capable of better, presumably kept to right-handed tracks in future.

Balding was represented by wife Anna-Lisa, who said: “They didn’t go very quick, and she was over-racing a little bit for the first half a mile, but she’s a gorgeous filly who really covers the ground.

“I’m delighted for Guy Brook (owner/breeder), it’s his first Group winner; he’s a big supporter and I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s 21 years since we won the Oaks and it’s just lovely to have runners in those big races.

“It’s the time of year when all the geese are swans and all the smiles on the mornings can turn the wrong way round, but that one will really put a smile on Andrew’s face.”

MILL Stream (Jane Chapple Hyam/William Buick) justified market support in the Group 2 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes on Wednesday, getting his nose down on the line to shade a desperately close finish ahead of Shouldvebeenaring (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey), Diligent Harry (Clive Cox/Richard Kingscote), and pace-setter Washington Heights, with less than half a length separating that quartet.

The winner was sent off joint favourite at 4/1 having finished a close second to Washington Heights in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket on his return.

There was drama when Tiber Flow clipped heels and fell less than two furlongs from home, but both he and Tom Marquand were later reported to be none the worse for the spectacular spill.

Mill Stream was promoted to 8/1 favourite with Coral for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and Chapple-Hyam would be keen to aim him at that race, assuming owner Peter Harris agrees.

She said: “He’s a tough, brave horse and he’s come on a lot since the Abernant, but he’s only just won. I think he’s pretty versatile, he goes on any ground. It was soft when he won in France last year twice but quick in the Abernant.

“I’d like to go to Ascot on the Saturday, but I’ll see what Mr Harris wants to do. [He] has landed me with some nice horses and I’m in a lucky position, I’ve got 18 for him so it’s nice to win a big race for him. We’ve got Rolica, the filly, to look forward to and some colts coming through.

“I think he’s good enough to run in the Jubilee.”