Mick Kinane experienced the ups and downs of racing as High Chaparral succeeded where Rock of Gibraltar so narrowly failed with a hard-fought win at the Breeders' Cup in Arlington, Chicago yesterday.
The Irishman found all the trouble going as Rock of Gibraltar lost his unbeaten record this year by going down to French hope Domedriver in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
But the smile was back on his face when Epsom and Irish Derby winner High Chaparral scythed through the field to win the Breeders' Cup Turf.
It was outsider The Tin Man who led the field into the straight into the Turf but Kinane brought his mount, the 9-10 favourite on the pari-mutuel, through with a well-timed challenge to lead a furlong out and hold the staying-on With Anticipation by one and a quarter lengths.
It had all been a very different story earlier on in the day. But in truth Rock of Gibraltar lost little other than his amazing recent record as he finished second to unfancied French horse Domedriver in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Send off odds-on by the American punters on the pari-mutuel, Kinane's mount was stone last of the 14 runners halfway down the back straight after missing the kick.
And although he made relentless progress down the outside in the home straight, catching rivals with every stride, Rock of Gibraltar could never quite catch the winner who was given a canny ride close to the pace by Thierry Thuillez.
A total attendance of over 46,000 packed into Arlington to watch the action and made the day a total sell-out for the first ever time.