AN almost full field of the best native-bred two-year-olds demonstrated it was not up to staying 1,600 metres, and allowed 47-1 chance Coneyislandinvader to create a stunning upset in the 99th running of the $4.25 million Supreme Ventures Limited Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes at Caymanas Park on Boxing Day.

The track was labelled as fast, but Blue Grass Racing Stable’s Coneyislandinvader crawled the mile event in 1:43.1 to win by 1 1/2 lengths and recorded possibly the slowest time in the history of the race among the best native-bred two-year-olds.

A futurity race for the leading native-bred two-year-olds training, the first 1,200 metres was completed in a decent 1:13.1, built around earlier fractions of 23.2 and 47.3 for the quarter.

Notwithstanding the earlier effort, they came to a virtual standstill in mid-track as it took the winner an inordinately long time — almost 30 seconds — to complete the final 400 metres for victory in the field of 15. Sixteen runners were originally declared but Justin On Fire was a late scratch.

The Two-Year-Old Stakes was the first Grade One victory for the Argyll Farm Ltd-bred son of Image Maker out of Gamma Knife (Royal Minister) and his second win overall from three career starts from a racing career which started four months ago — in August.

It was the first big win for trainer Edward S Walker — a recent graduate from the Jamaica Racing Commission training course — and also for overseas-based jockey Tyrone Nelson, who won two races to have his most successful day of riding in Jamaica.

Smokin Man, well supported as an 8-1 bet, led the field soon after the off, ridden by Andre Martin, and still held the advantage after rounding the final bend on the inside rails, but challenged by Coneyislandinvader on his outside.

Those two then fought it out furiously through the lane before Smokin Man came to a walk in the drive while Coneyislandinvader plodded on until he got up to the wire by 1 1/2 ahead of the fast-finishing 6-1 chance Erasmo, ridden by Dick Cardenas, who had a neck to spare on Uncle Ken, ridden by Shane Ellis for second money, with Smokin Man completing the frame.

However, this one was later disqualified and exchanged places with Traditional Prince, ridden by Jodeien Anderson after drifting into the path of the later in the stretch run.

Both trainer Walker and jockey Nelson were ecstatic at their success, but Walker moreso as he brought a most unlikely winner to the event and outstayed better-rated horses than his.

Said a joyous Walker who seemed to have done some homework on his opponents’ entries before deciding to enter native-bred juveniles’ most celebrated event and heftiest payday:

“I was very confident going into the race as I always felt that my horse had a good shot at winning. This became clear to me when he (Coneyislandinvader) ran 1,000 metres in a minute one after not competing for four months.

“When we could not get a particular rider as he had another engagement, the connections and myself wanted to put up a competent but not so popular a rider and we settled on Nelson who is himself quite capable,” said Walker.

Coneyislandinvader earned $2,295,000 as the winner’s share to bankroll $2,815,500 for his connections from his three career starts which include two wins and a third-place finish.