Gleneagles's Mill Stream Pounces Late in Dramatic Duke of York

Peter Harris's 4-year-old Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}–Swirral Edge {GB}, by Hellvelyn {GB}), who ran second to the reopposing Washington Heights (GB) (Washington DC {Ire}) in last month's G3 Abernant S. at Newmarket on seasonal return, stepped forward to claim a last-gasp victory in a dramatic renewal of Wednesday's G2 1895 Duke of York Clipper S. at York. The Jane Chapple-Hyam trainee annexed Deauville's G3 Prix de Meautry and Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud in seven sophomore starts before undergoing a wind operation at the end of last year.

Mill Stream tracked the leaders in sixth, after an alert getaway, from the outset of this straight six-furlong dash. Rowed along soon after passing halfway, the 4-1 joint-favourite came under sterner urging inside the final quarter-mile and was driven out in the latter stages to nail Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) by a nose on the line, in a thrilling three-way photograph, for a career high. There was a heart-stopping moment approaching the final furlong where William Haggas representative Tiber Flow (Ire) (Caravaggio) parted company with rider Tom Marquand in an horrific-looking fall. Both escaped relatively unscathed after being assessed.

“I wasn't sure if we'd won and I appreciate they couldn't show the replay because of the faller, but thankfully Tom [Marquand] and the horse look okay,” said Chapple-Hyam. “Mill Stream is 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 and he goes on any ground. It was soft when he won in France last year, but quick in the Abernant. I'd like to go to Ascot on the Saturday [for the G1 Platinum Jubilee], 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, so it's nice to win a big race for him. I think Mill Stream is good enough to run in the Jubilee and I'd like to see the splits as it's on the slow side of good today, but he's against older horses.

Winning rider William Buick added, “I got carried left a little bit, but he really put his head out and I was delighted he got the verdict. He's been knocking on the door a few times, hopefully this is his year and he could have a big year ahead of him.”

Middleham Park Racing's Tim Palin, reflecting on the performance of runner-up Shouldvebeenaring, commented, “Mill Stream was a worthy winner on the day, it was obviously close in the photo, and we're just delighted with how our horse ran because we couldn't really explain what happened last time. Maybe there was a slightly bounce factor going into the Abernant from the Lady Wulfruna. We've got our horse back, a horse who was running well in Group 1s at the backend of last year, in the Haydock Sprint Cup and the Prix da la Foret, and we'll continue to ply our trade in Group 1s and Group 2s. He's in a Group 3 over seven furlongs at ParisLongchamp a week on Sunday [May 26 G3 Prix du Palias-Royal] and he's also in the [May 25] G2 Greenlands at the Curragh, so he could go into one of those.”

Pedigree Notes
Mill Stream is the second foal and Group 2 scorer produced by a winning half-sister to Listed Westow S. victrix and G3 Prix du Petit Couvert third Fashion Queen (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}), herself the dam of Listed Premio Umbria victor Noble Title (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). The April-foaled bay is a half-brother to G2 Richmond S. winner and G1 Prix Morny third Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and the hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Tasalla (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).

Mill Stream wins the G2 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes for @JaneChappleHyam

Tiber Flow is up & Tom Marquand has also walked away from that incident pic.twitter.com/9oNKWBGxTj

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 15, 2024

Wednesday, York, Britain
1895 DUKE OF YORK CLIPPER S.-G2, £150,000, York, 5-15, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:10.91, gd.
1–MILL STREAM (IRE), 136, c, 4, by Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: Swirral Edge (GB), by Hellvelyn (GB)
2nd Dam: Pizzarra (GB), by Shamardal
3rd Dam: Pizzicato (GB), by Statoblest (Ire)
(350,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-P W Harris; B-Redpender Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Jane Chapple-Hyam; J-William Buick. £85,065. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 12-4-3-1, $276,085. *1/2 to Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), GSW-Eng, SW & G1SP-Fr, SP-USA, $286,744. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shouldvebeenaring (GB), 136, c, 4, Havana Grey (GB)–Lady Estella (Ire), by Equiano (Fr). (£40,000 Ylg '21 GOFFUK). O-Middleham Park Racing XVIII; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £32,250.
3–Diligent Harry (GB), 136, g, 6, Due Diligence–Harryana To (GB), by Compton Place (GB). (£38,000 Ylg '19 GOFFPR). O-The Dilinquents; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Clive Cox. £16,140.
Margins: NO, NK, NK. Odds: 4.00, 12.00, 8.50.
Also Ran: Washington Heights (GB), Art Power (Ire), Montassib (GB), Azure Blue (Ire), Swingalong (Ire), Fivethousandtoone (Ire), Commanche Falls (GB), Spycatcher (Ire), Marshman (GB), Khaadem (Ire). Scratched: Cold Case (GB). DNF: Tiber Flow (Ire).