In a compelling stretch duel which had loud shouting fans on their feet, jockey Robert Halledeen produced the ride of his career, pushing and pushing the very willing and fighting dark bay filly A Thousand Stars> to a neck victory in the Caribbean Choice-sponsored Jamaica Oaks run for the Hilma Veira trophy yesterday at Caymanas Park.

A Thousand Stars, (9-2), owned and bred by Elizabeth DaCosta and conditioned by her husband and champion trainer Wayne, defeated the prohibitive 1-9 favourite Nuclear Affair, who lost no merit in defeat by a neck with Glyder third in the 10-furlong event.

With a tight hold, Halledeen allowed A Thousand Stars to settle into third place behind Bubbling Kitten (Ian Spence) and Bird Catcher (Bebeto Harvey) passing the stands for the first time and heading around the club house turn.

The position of the field remained the same as the 10 runners breezed past the 1,200-metre marker, until Halledeen sent A Thousand Stars to lead at the half and in a flash, Nuclear Affair, under Shane Ellis, with the roar from the crowd sensing something special in the offing, drew alongside the leader entering the drive.

Nuclear Affair drew away from A Thousand Stars and was on target to land her second Classic victory of the season. But Halledeen was unperturbed, switching A Thousand Stars from the inside rails; producing A Thousand Stars on the outside to clip Nuclear Affair on the wire for an emphatic and upset victory.

“The only thing on my mind coming into this race was to beat the favourite Nuclear Affair. I knew my horse would get the journey comfortably as she is bred to go long as well as Nuclear Affair, and so I knew that to save a lot for the stretch run I had to just keep her settled and allow her to really run the final two furlongs.

“After giving up the lead in the straight, I saw that Nuclear Affair wasn’t going away, so I just kept working and working and we eventually got home,” Halledeen told the Jamaica Observer.

For trainer DaCosta it was another special day.

“While everything was done to get A Thousand Stars in shape and in fighting condition, and while it was obvious that she ( A Thousand Stars) would get a distance of ground, I did not put my pot on fire.

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Nuclear Affair was very impressive when winning the 1,000 Guineas in April, so it was difficult seeing her being defeated, but that is why they run the races.

“I am happy, really happy; another Classic win is always something to celebrate, “DaCosta said.

The victory was the second for Halledeen and DaCosta out of the three Classic races run this season. They teamed up to win the 2,000 Guineas with Future King on April 9.