Dettori led from the start

The odds-on favourite held off a late charge by The Geezer to win the season's last Classic by a length with Tawqeet trailing in third.

Dettori allowed Aidan O'Brien-trained Scorpion to settle in front and set a moderate pace in the early stages of the one-mile-six-furlong showpiece.

The Italian started to up the gallop just before entering the home straight and really kicked on four furlongs out.

Scorpion gave his backers an anxious moment as he jinked after running towards the rail in the closing stages.

But Dettori managed to keep him straight under pressure from The Geezer.

I wouldn't swap my horse for the winner and he's run a really great race David Elsworth

"When I went for him to go and win his race he just slipped but I always knew if something had got to him he would have found some more," said the winning jockey.

"This is my third St Leger - let's hope I am back riding the winner for Godolphin next year."

David Elsworth was delighted with The Geezer's performance although he felt his horse, ridden by Richard Quinn, did not get the best of runs.

"You only get one bite and we probably weren't in the right place to make a challenge," he said.

"I'm certainly not blaming Quinny though - it was just one of those things.

"At the finish it looked like we needed another furlong really which is a bit surprising considering that some pundits thought we might not stay a mile and three-quarters.