A snapped bit robbed Coastal Bluff of outright Nunthorpe Stakes victory but helped Alex Greaves create a slice of history at York yesterday. Greaves, aged 29, became the first woman to ride a Group One winner in Britain when her mount Ya Malak dead-heated in a dramatic finish to the £100,000 sprint.

Judge Jane Stickels spent more than 20 minutes examining the photo-finish but after studying two prints she was unable to separate the pair.

It was a just result to a pulsating event in which Kevin Darley, clinging desperately to Coastal Bluff's mane, performed wonders to steer the grey past the post.

Darley relied on Ya Malak and Eveningperformance, who were either side of him, to guide him once he had lost the use of his reins.

Kieren Fallon, riding third placed Averti, helped slow down Coastal Bluff after the line before Darley was unshipped. "He took a very strong hold so I tried to take him back and that was when the bit broke," Darley recounted.

"Fortunately he has a long mane and I used it to keep my balance and keep him going. I had no steering control at all. It wasn't scary when it initially happened because I knew that he was still in the race. But I was worried afterwards because I had nothing to hold onto."

Compton Place, uneasy favourite following the defection of Danetime on a vet's certificate, failed to recover from a slow start and finished second last.