Yorkshire trainer Brian Ellison sprung a 25-1 surprise in the Betfred Ebor as he landed the valuable prize with second string Moyenne Corniche.
Saptapadi was expected to throw down a big challenge for the handler and though he ran well and held every chance, he could not get into the frame as the Dale Swift-ridden Moyenne Corniche flashed home to grab the glory by a length.
Tactician led for a long way in the Queen's colours and rallied gamely to take second, with Investissement looking the likely winner at one stage but having to settle for third, a further half a length away. Modun was fourth.
Doncaster Rover got the better of a thrilling battle with Majestic Myles to land the Debenhams City Of York Stakes on the Knavesmire.
There was nothing between the pair in the closing stages, with the finish mirroring the race for the jockeys' title, and on this occasion it was challenger Silvestre de Sousa who came out on top by a head over reigning champion Paul Hanagan.
"Once he starts coming like that two out, the one thing is he always does it," said trainer David Brown of the 5-1 joint-favourite.
"He's genuine and does his best, but he's had a hard ride and I told Silvestre to keep niggling at him and not give him a minute. This horse is spot on and in real good order. We swam him this morning to keep him loosened up.
"I'd be tempted if he was right to go to Newmarket next week for the race he won last year (Hopeful Stakes). It's a stiff six furlongs and he likes it there."
There was an appropriate winner of the tyregiant.com Handicap as Kevin Ryan's York Glory brought the curtain down on the 2011 Ebor meeting under an inspired Kieren Fallon.
The former champion burst through deep inside the final furlong to win going away on the 5-2 favourite from Dickie's Lad and Irish raider Oor Jock.
Fallon finished top rider over the four days by virtue of one extra third place from Dettori, the pair having had four winners each.
He said: "I thought he did it very well, I got a great run through and the splits came just in time. He impressed me. He could be an Ayr Gold Cup horse."
Frankie Dettori completed a treble when driving My Propeller home to take the Julia Graves Roses Stakes.
The Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained filly (4-1) had won by a huge margin at Pontefract in June, but was then well beaten in the Cherry Hinton Stakes.
The drop to five furlongs proved to her liking as she came through on the stands rail in the final furlong to take Listed honours by a length from Last Bid, in the colours of Newcastle United footballer Joey Barton.
"Our horses have been on fire the last two weeks," said Chapple-Hyam's travelling head lad Ronan Meehan.
"The owner couldn't get here as Newcastle were playing today, but he'll be a happy man as they won as well, and the boss is buying a horse at Deauville. This filly appreciated going back to five against lesser opposition."
Risky Art benefited from a tremendous Kieren Fallon ride to come out on top in the Betfred Bonus King Nursery.
Self Centred looked poised to give Barry Hills a winner with his last York runner, but Fallon was getting a great tune out of the Sangster family-owned contender, who was stepping up markedly in trip from five furlongs to a mile.
With the jockey then making a pre-planned move to come over to the stands rail, the Mick Easterby-trained Risky Art (6-1) had enough left to hold the late charge of 7-2 favourite Crius by a neck.
Easterby said: "I told Kieren to come over to this side. I knew she'd get the mile, the Sangster family let me try her over the trip and it worked. They are great owners to train for."
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