Dubai: What a difference a year makes. Well-beaten in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes 12 months ago, Alpha Delphini made a triumphant return to York on Friday to upstage a classy field and win an unquestionably thrilling renewal of the iconic five-furlong sprint.

Ridden by Graham Lee, a former Grand National-winning jockey, the seven-year-old prevailed by a nose from the late-flying Mabs Cross, the mount of Tom Eaves.

The connections of both horses, and a sell-out crowd at the Knavesmire track had to endure a lengthy wait before the Stewards announced the winner after deliberating on the photo-finish.

“The longer we had to wait, the more sure I became it’d be a dead-heat,” said Lee who won the Grand National in 2004 aboard Amberleigh House.

“I’m delighted to win but I’m sorry for Tom and the Mabs Cross team.”

Red-hot favourite Battaash, hoping to establishing himself as the sprint star of this season, following scintillating performances in the Temple Stakes (G2) at Haydock and the King Edward Stakes (G2) at Goodwood on his most recent start, looked a shadow of himself as he toiled to fourth place.

Blue Point, trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin and winner of the King’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, who was seen as the biggest danger to Battaash, also failed to turn on the heat and had to settle for third, two-and-a-half lengths behind the front pair.

Alpha Delphini, named after a multiple star system in the planetary constellation, became one of the longest-priced winners of the Nunthorpe after being sent off a 40/1 outsider.

North Yorkshire-based Smart was struggling to control his emotions and told ITV Racing: “That was the longest five minutes of my life,” he said referring to the delay before the Stewards verdict.

“I knew I had him the best he’d ever been, I’d trained him for this race as it was one I’d always wanted to win.

“I’d told the wife months ago that he was going to be absolutely spot on for this, he was just coming right.

“There was a difference today, he was so relaxed, he wasn’t sweating or anything.

“Credit must go to Graham Lee, it was his idea to take the cheek-pieces off as he felt that he couldn’t see the other horses when they came at him.

“My wife treats this horse like a king at home; he has back problems and gets treated like he owns the place.”

Chalking out future plans for his stable star, Smart added: “We’ve put him in the (Prix de) Abbaye and there’s a good chance he’ll go for that.

“We did have the Beverley Bullet as a back-up, but we can skip that now.”