MARK MY WORD, ridden by Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas, scores a 16-1 upset in the 2000 Guineas over 1,600 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday, winning by 4 3/4 lengths. - Colin Hamilton

Highly fancied AL FOUZIA and the 16-1 outsider MARK MY WORD floored the odds on the favourites to win the season's first classics, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas over 1,600 metres, at Caymanas Park yesterday.

In the 1,000 Guineas contested by 13 native bred three-year-old fillies, AL FOUZIA, ridden by Dane Nelson, was installed a 9-5 second favourite, but in the end proved too strong for the 7-5 favourite GABIWITZO under US-based Jamaica jockey Andrew Ramgeet, winning by 1 1/4L.

Held up off the early pace in seventh as highly fancied MISS LEE (5-2), with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths riding for 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny, led at a fast clip from MOMENT OF HOPE (17-1) with champion jockey Omar Walker astride; AL FOUZIA was produced on the outside entering the straight.

She disposed of a fading MISS LEE approaching the distance and when GABIWITZO loomed large on the outside a furlong out, Nelson dug deep aboard AL FOUZIA.

Switching his whip to the left hand leaving the furlong pole and flaying away throughout the last furlong, Nelson was able to repel the challenge of GABIWITZO, with AL FOUZIA beating her by 1 1/4L.

Owned by Farasfhal Farm, trained by Rowan Mathie and bred by many-time champion Henry W. Jaghai, AL FOUZIA is a bay filly by Legal Process out of the Liver Stand mare Lady Bakul.

An elated Mathie, who was posting his first classic winner since obtaining a trainer's licence in 1999, said: "She had some problems earlier in the season and ran below expectations under top weight behind Gabiwitzo in the Thornbird Stakes last month.

"But I worked hard to present her in peak condition, and based on the handicaps and proven class I was pretty confident she would deliver today... She will be back for the Oaks later this month," he promised.

Later in the afternoon, the previously unbeaten LIFEISJUSFORLIVING led into the straight and came under pressure from the ever-present MARK MY WORD under Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas, a furlong out in the 2000 Guineas.

The Richard Azan-trained MARK MY WORD quickened nicely on the inside rails early in the last furlong, pulling clear of the 2-5 favourite LIFEISJUSTFORLIVING (Walker up) to beat him 4 3/4 lengths in a field of 11.

A bay colt by Market Rally out of Miss Chestnut, MARK MY WORD is owned by Elite Bloodstock and bred by HAM Stables Limited.