Saint Alebe produced a powerful run in the long York straight to record a dramatic last-to-first success in the £190,000 Tote Ebor on the Knavesmire yesterday.

The late-maturing four-year-old, trained by David Elsworth at Whitsbury, was away from home overnight for the first time but took it all in his stride to record a handsome victory at 20-1 in Europe's richest handicap.

Saint Alebe's task had been made considerably harder after he slipped coming out of the stalls, leaving him stuck in the rear group. He was still disputing last place turning for home.

But Richard Quinn gradually picked off his rivals throughout the final four furlongs and, challenging on the outside, led 50 yards from the finish to beat Sun Bird (25-1) by half a length.

Salsalino, the 4-1 favourite, who came from an equally unpromising position at the back of the pack, stayed on to finish third, with Unleash (25-1) home for each-way backers in fourth.

Saint Alebe was bought by Elsworth as a two-year-old, but proved too backward to make it to the racecourse until last year.

Since then he has steadily improved under the education of his part-owner Jeannie Brown, the former trainer who handed in her licence three years ago to take a position as assistant at Elsworth's yard.

Saint Alebe is owned jointly by Elsworth, Brown and two Yorkshiremen, Ray Standly and Paul Clifton, so the victory still had a local theme, despite the horse being trained in the West Country.

''This race will mean as much to them as the Derby,'' said Elsworth.

''It just goes to show that the downs are often followed by ups in this game. Yesterday I had two horses who I really fancied run very disappointingly here.

''This horse is still a bit of a baby really and he can hang, but he enjoyed coming from off the pace here - not many horses go past him at the end of a race as he really does stay well.

''I had thought of him as more of a Cesarewitch type as I thought the wide-open spaces might suit him. I put him in the race this morning and hopefully that will still be the plan.

''Jeannie is his trainer more than I am! She is the one who was up this morning looking after him while I was playing golf, so she deserves the credit.''

Brown added: ''I ride him out every day - he is my baby and I love him. There is going to be a hell of a party tonight in Malton at The Spotted Cow.''

Quinn was hit with a two-day suspension when the stewards found him guilty of breaching the whip guidelines. He will be out of action on August 29 and 30.

Amazingly, Saint Alebe's pedigree is packed with speed despite his obvious reserves of stamina. His dam, Soba Up, is a daughter of the high-class sprinter Soba.

Sun Bird turned in a hugely-creditable performance to finish second.

His trainer Dick Allan said: ''I'm delighted with him. He didn't get the best of runs, but a lot of them didn't.

''But it shows his ability and the Cesarewitch will be his next big target.''

Next month's St Leger at Doncaster might yet be on the cards for Salsalino.

Trainer Alan King said: ''We might have only one more race this season, maybe in a Group Three race in France (the Prix Gladiateur at Longchamp)."