Sergeant Cecil landed a popular victory in the GNER Doncaster Cup at York.

The seven-year-old, trained by Rod Millman, got the better of the veteran Alcazar to follow up his Lonsdale Cup victory at the Ebor meeting last month.

Frankie Dettori took the even-money favourite into the lead around two furlongs out and kept on strongly to take the Group Two contest over a stamina-sapping two-and-a-quarter miles by a length, with Baddam two and a half lengths away in third.

A stewards' inquiry was called as Sergeant Cecil and Alcazar came close in the closing stages.

Kasthari, who dead-heated for this prize two years ago, took the eight-strong field along while Dettori held Sergeant Cecil up towards the rear.

The leader kept up the gallop well into the straight, with Alcazar also laying down a challenge.

Dettori made his move early on the hot favourite and swept into the lead, although he appeared to slightly check Alcazar who had to be switched.

Dettori was completing a 9-1 double having taken the opening Ladbrokes Mallard Stakes on Sunday Symphony (4-1).

The placings remained unaltered, and Dettori enthused: "He's amazing. He had me a bit snookered as he wasn't really travelling and then he came back on the bridle.

"He perhaps went a bit too soon but he had plenty in hand - what a star he is.

"He's never let anyone down and I'm now part of this dream of everybody."

Asked to give an overview on his mount getting close to the runner-up along the straight, Dettori told Channel 4 Racing: "He went right when he hit the front but the race was won by then."

Millman added: "That was was really good. We'll just keep him ticking over for the rest of the season now.

Sergeant Cecil's owner Terry Cooper was nearly lost for words after his tough-as-teak gelding racked up another memorable victory.

"I just don't know what to say and it's wonderful to have a horse as good as this," he said.

"What I've done to deserve this is hard to imagine.

"It's wonderful, it really is. The crowd here and the reception he gets is so wonderful."

Hughie Morrison felt Dettori's late manoeuvre aboard Sergeant Cecil had arguably cost Alcazar victory.

He said: "He was coming back at the winner at the line.

"He (Sergeant Cecil) took our ground. If it had been in France we would get a Group Two race in the stewards' room, but not here.

"When he's in good form, this is his class.

"If he's OK we will take him to France for both the Prix du Cadran and the Prix Royal Oak."