Secret History led from start to finish to land the Musidora Stakes on the first day of the Dante meeting at York.
Joe Fanning's filly, trained by Mark Johnson was always going to set the pace but she relished the soft conditions on the Knavesmire.
She quickened up with two furlongs to go and although the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Quickfire challenged briefly, that was as close as it got.
Aidan O'Brien's well-fancied Mona Lisa could only finish a distant fourth.
Fanning felt the conditions played right into Secret History's hands.
"I always ride her up with the pace and she's straightforward. She picked up well when I asked her and she loves that ground," he said.
"It's hard to say if she can go all the way. She's improving all the time, so you never know."
The 14-1 shot The Kiddykid produced a strong finish to win the Group Two Duke Of York Hearthstead Homes Stakes.
Steenberg, ridden by Philip Robinson, who was second in the race last year, looked to have launched a winning run about half a furlong from home.
But Spencer came through the middle for a win by three-quarters of a length with Welsh Emperor third behind Steenberg.
Musidora Stakes (1m 2½f)
1. Secret History (J Fanning) 4-1
2. Quickfire (MJ Kinane) 4-1
3. Play Me (R Havlin) 8-1
6 ran. Dist: 5, 2½
Duke of York Hearthstead Homes Stakes (6f)
1. The Kiddykid (J P Spencer) 14-1
2. Steenberg (P Robinson) 6-1
3. Welsh Emperor (R Winston) 10-1
11 ran. Dist: ¾, 1
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