For a guest whose arrival was doubtful until the last minute, Alamshar showed up and stole the show yesterday at the Curragh in the Budweiser Irish Derby.
On Friday, his back problem was so bad he was walking crooked, but 48 hours later he powered his way home to win €736,600 - not bad for a few minutes' work.
A small bay horse, he isn't the flashiest of individuals but he left a train of more grandly named colts - Brian Boru, Handel, Roosevelt and The Great Gatsby - trailing in his wake.
Thunderstorms were predicted, but a record crowd of more than 31,000 enjoyed the perfect racing weather of sunshine and a light breeze.
Fianna Fáil turned out in strength as usual, with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the Agriculture Minister, Mr Walsh, and the former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, all enjoying the racing.
Prof Niamh Brennan and her husband, the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, were there too, as was Gay Byrne, and a plethora of former Miss Irelands, Roses of Tralee, and local and foreign models.
Last year, former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke was escorted from the Curragh following disorderly behaviour. There were no such shenanigans from football's most famous representative at this year's event, former Ireland striker Niall Quinn.
Headpieces, not hats, were in vogue with the ladies and turquoise was the in-colour. Alison Vickers from Kilmessan and Jeannette Carroll from Slane were striking in outfits of pink and fuchsia and black and white respectively.
Alison said she didn't spend any time studying the form for the big race, she just "backed Alisar because it sounds like Alison". Three dashing Argentinians sporting berets and who work for Coolmore Stud said, on inside information, that they were supporting The Great Gatsby.
"We love horses in Argentina and you love them in Ireland, too," said Leo Racco. The Aga Khan had two horses in the Derby. His hot odds-on favourite was Dalakhani, unbeaten in six starts and hailed as the next equine superstar.
Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré, he was ridden by up-and-coming Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon.
The Aga Khan's second string, Alamshar, was from the local team, trained by John Oxx and ridden by the Curragh's favourite son, Johnny Murtagh.
In the home straight, the Aga Khan's two pulled away from the field. In a thrilling duel, Alamshar triumphed by a half-length. The Curragh went crazy as Murtagh and his horse passed the post.
The Aga Khan's daughter, Princess Zahara, repeatedly patted Dalakhani on the nose when he returned. "I knew this would happen," she said sadly.
Murtagh was over the moon. Alamshar had been an unlikely runner until the physiotherapist and the chiropractor worked wonders, he said. "We were very pessimistic. He couldn't walk straight on Friday. This horse is as tough as nails. He's a bit small but he's very special."