While John Reid punched the air in celebration after Kayf Tara swept past the post first in Saturday's Jefferson Smurfit Irish St Leger, others were left punching in frustration after Ebadiyla's extraordinary exit before the start.
A trickle of blood from one of the favourite's nostrils was pointed out to jockey John Murtagh as the runners arrived at the start, and, on veterinary advice, Ebadiyla was withdrawn.
It was a cruel blow for her connections and for the thousands of punters who were on her. It was made even worse when Ebadiyla subsequently showed up as clean as a whistle after being scoped: a bid for a third classic had been shattered by a simple and slight nose bleed.
"I suppose they had no option, but there was only a slight bit of blood in one nostril," said trainer John Oxx, who admirably maintained his usual equable temperament in the circumstances. "Maybe she's just suffering from a slight head cold, but if she had run badly, and the jockey had come back and said there was blood in her nose before the race, things would have been said."
Ebadiyla was withdrawn by the starter after advice from vet Peter Murray-Hayden, who was at the start. "I'm just the jockey, he's the vet and I left it to him," said Murtagh, who felt the frustration as keenly as anyone. The one consolation is that Ebadiyla could yet make up for it in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
"We are still keen for her to run in the Arc," Oxx said yesterday after confirming that Ebadiyla had cantered happily in the morning. "Maybe the Leger was a more realistic chance for her, but if it's soft at Longchamp she will take her chance. We just have to try to make sure this doesn't happen again."
All of which meant that Kayf Tara's battling defeat of Silver Patriarch and Delilah in an all-British finish to the final classic of the season didn't receive the full glare of the gallery's attention.
The Ascot Gold Cup winner was completing a Leger double for Godolphin and Reid, and his proven stamina came into play once Delilah led them into the straight. Silver Patriarch, who Pat Eddery said was scrubbing along at half way, got into top gear outside the furlong pole, but Kayf Tara was always holding him and went on to win by two lengths.
"It's a great day for Godolphin with two Group Ones in an hour (Aljabar in the Prix Salamandre). He will return to Dubai for the winter and be back in Europe next year for a similar programme," said Saeed Bin Suroor.
For Reid, the start had presented its own problems. "I thought with the favourite out there will be no pacemaker, but in fact they went off at 100 mph. I was always travelling well, and when Pat came to me my horse responded really well," he said.
Eddery reported: "My horse ran in snatches through the race and didn't really pick up." Silver Patriarch is unlikely to run in the Arc, but will stay in training next year.
Reid had earlier been on the mark with Ramooz, who turned the MacDonogh Boland Stakes into a five-length procession, beating Two-Twenty-Two. "He got a strong gallop today and showed his class," Reid smiled.
Aidan O'Brien saddled a double with the newcomer Alexfield and Yuan, who just held off Space Trucker in the last. Space Trucker's rider, Jamie Spencer, got a two-day race ban.
