Adrian Martin onboard Hombre

The little-fancied HOMBRE turned the form book upside down at Caymanas Park on Saturday with a 52-1 upset in the 31st running of the ADL 'Blanca Nieves' Superstakes over 2000 metres, slamming the best distance horses in the country. The race offered a record purse of $6 million.

Ridden by Andre Martin for veteran trainer Noel Ennevor and owner/breeder Wessel Burnett, HOMBRE, who raced prominently from the start in the 13-horse field, shot past the early leader IT IS I at the halfway stage and proceeded to turn it into a procession.

The filly SAINT CECELIA, one of three joint favourites at odds of 5-2, looked likely to make a race of it when going in chase leaving the half mile, turning for home a clear second, two lengths adrift of HOMBRE.

But those who were expecting HOMBRE to stop on this occasion were in for a rude awakening, as the four-year-old son of Pat N Jac - Muchacha Favourita found another gear from early in the straight to win by 4 1/4 lengths in the fairly good time of 2:07.1.

The marginal favourite RUM TALK and last year's winner AD INFINITUM (5-2), both of whom failed to go the early pace, closed late for second and third place respectively, while SAINT CECELIA flattened out leaving the furlong pole to finish sixth. POSEIDON was declared a late non-starter.

Neither Martin nor Ennevor were surprised by the stunning upset. The jockey said HOMBRE was his favourite horse (having won twice with him early in the year) and going into the race he was "very, very confident".

Ennevor said he not only expected to win but to finish second with his more fancied runner ALLIEDFORCE, who finished fourth at odds of 18-1.

According to the trainer, ALLIEDFORCE was ridden too close to the pace and could not finish with his usual kick. But not so HOMBRE, who received a peach of a ride from Martin.

"Andre was the right jockey for him today", said Ennevor."Trust me, I did nothing different, but HOMBRE was a different horse today", he was quick to add.

The ADL Superstakes Trophy was presented to the winning owner (Burnett) by former World Heavyweight Boxing champion, Lennox Lewis, before a record crowd in this the 50-year anniversary of Caymans Park.