Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

IN A stunning upset, the 2003 Superstakes winner, PITTACUS, running at gigantic odds of 46-1, humbled the 2004 Superstakes hero DISTINCTLY IRISH in the 3-y-o and up open allowance feature over 1600 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

The least fancied in a field of eight, PITTACUS, ridden by Richie 'Biah' Mitchell for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, won by 2 3/4 lengths from the 3-5 favourite DISTINCTLY IRISH (Winston Griffiths up) who was racing for the first time since finishing second to MIRACLE MAN in last November's Superstakes.

Third went to this year's St. Leger winner, ALLIEDFORCE (15-1), who was far from disgraced after missing the break from the number one post position. PITTACUS was well away from the number three position, but was taken in hand as this year's Derby winner, RANSOM MAN (8-1), led under pressure from the winner's more fancied stable-companion AD INFINITUM (7-2) under champion jockey Brian Harding and DISTINCTLY IRISH racing three wide on the outside.

RANSOM MAN gave way to DISTINCTLY IRISH approaching the home turn but by then, PITTACUS had made rapid headway from sixth position to straighten within striking distance of the leader. Storming through on the outside, he disposed of DISTINCTLY IRISH early in the straight and moved away to win in the fairly good time of 1:38.1.

Owned jointly by Elias Haloute and Edmund Lam, PITTACUS has now won twice from seven starts this season and is on course for another crack at the Red Stripe Superstakes on November 11.

Mitchell, meanwhile, was pleasantly surprised at the outcome, but confessed that PITTACUS was one of the proven class horses.

"I broke him in second position but the trainer told me not to rush him. Leaving the three-furlong pole my horse was picking off runners so fast that he was ready to fly from the top of the lane," he said.

"In the end it was an easy victory", said Mitchell who was notching his second big outsider for Nunes this month following LA PRESIDENTA at 55-1 on September 9.

Bred by the Orange Valley Estates Limited, PITTACUS is a six-year-old bay gelding by Pat N Jac out of the Peacemaker mare Vicegerent.

This was his 12th career win from 35 starts with stakes of $6.4 million.

Mitchell had a second winner on the card in the Richard Azan-trained TOOT THE HOOT (6-5) who romped home in the Dewhurst Stakes over 1300 metres for native bred two-year-olds.

Nunes also had a second winner when unbeaten favourite YOSHI (Harding up) won the Dr. Ralston Feanny Memorial Trophy over 1100 metres, while the 2-5 favourite and Azan-trained ALNASKRA (Wesley Henry) made all in the round five Stewards Cup for a winning debut.