The 77th running of the Jamaica Oaks on Saturday at Caymanas Park was the day A Thousand Stars announced her presence with an explosive performance.

The three-year-old filly by Storm Craft – Heart of Gold reversed the placing in the 1,000 Guineas, defeating by a neck her conqueror on that occasion – Nuclear Affair.

The finish of the Oaks was something to behold as A Thousand Stars with her never-say-die attitude rallied under a really robust ride from Robert Halledeen to earn Classic glory.

The Complete Racing Guide analyses the outcome of the Classic race for fillies only.

FIRST:A Thousand Stars – Ran the race of her life to beat Guineas winner Nuclear Affair. The Wayne DaCosta-trained filly was noticeably much closer to the pace than in previous races, especially down the backstretch. When her rider Robert Halledeen noticed how slow the pace was, he made a decisive move leaving the five-furlong marker and hit the front, with her nemesis Nuclear Affair in hot pursuit. In the straight, A Thousand Stars was overtaken by Nuclear Affair who claimed the inside rails, but an unperturbed Halledeen quickly switched to the outside and spurred on A Thousand Stars with a telling run. In the end the margin of victory was a mere neck.A Thousand Stars is improving rapidly and is surely a credit to her trainer. Victory in the Oaks, however, was achieved by the resoluteness of her rider. A tremendous turn-up for the books, as A Thousand Stars was not given much of a chance to reverse the nine-and-a-half-length beating she received from Nuclear Affair in the Guineas. It was A Thousand Stars’ day and she shone brightly.

SECOND:Nuclear Affair – lost no points, even in defeat. Ran her heart out and just failed at the ‘death’. This is the second major race that Nuclear Affair has lost so close, having been nipped by Future King on Boxing Day last year in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes. As expected, Nuclear Affair was kept off the pace by her rider Shane Ellis. She gradually moved through the field down the backstretch and when eventual winner A Thousand Stars made her move, Nuclear Affair followed and got the lead at the top of the straight. She moved away as Ellis claimed the rail in an attempt to thwart the movement of A Thousand Stars, but it was not meant to be.A Thousand Stars found new life and came on the outside to win by a neck. Many punters are saying that Ellis moved too early in chase of A Thousand Stars, but jockeys have to make quick decisions in races, and Ellis must have thought about A Thousand Stars getting away too far. We will never know. What is certain, however, is that Nuclear Affair will be back.

THIRD: Glyder – Ran a really good race to finish third, just about two lengths behind the first two.Glyder quite obviously likes to stay and did most of her work in the straight. Really good run and one to note.

FOURTH:Sorrentino’s Star – Was there throughout but made no real impression, especially in the straight.

FIFTH: Bird Catcher – Was in the thick during the first four furlongs but backed out thereafter.

SIXTH:BABY P – Showed up early, and that was about it.

SEVENTH: Golden Glory – Raced in last place and barely moved in the straight.

EIGHTH: Bubbling Kitten – Was the leader for a while but lost her stamina quickly.

NINTH: Wartime – Should have been in non-winners of two.

TENTH:Fedora – Maybe sprinting is better for her.