It was only fitting that Dermot Weld should match the record for number of winners trained in Ireland at a meeting which he has made his own down the years.
The master of Rosewell House took his career total to 2,577, to equal the record set by JJ Parkinson on his retirement in 1947, when Worldy Treasure took the Wap Race at Galway today.
The result had looked in doubt when the Pat Smullen ridden colt, who had led from flag-fall, was challenged on the outside by Sand Partridge and Stephen Craine turning into the straight but the American-bred son of Ghazi fought well to score by half-a-length and earn himself a footnote in the history books.
'It means a lot to me. It's a life's achievement. A life's work.' said the man of the moment afterwards.
'There was a few opportunities missed here this week that we usually put away, like in the Galway Hurdle with Darialann and with Celtic Lore, and that just caused us to miss out on the record here.'
'I'm proudof what we have achieved and the consistency over the years. I plan to cut back the numbers in the future and hope to achieve more consistency.'
When asked to nominate the highlight of his career to date Weld mentioned Vintage Crop and Irish Derby winner Zagreb.
'Maybe it was Vintage Crop in the Melbourne Cup but Zagreb winning the Irish Derby was also special.'
'What Vintage Crop did will be done again in the future with the improvement in transport but what we achieved with him was a bit special.
'I'm very proud to be Irish and I'm very proud to hear the National Anthem playing around the world. It was very special to hear it when Go and Go won the Belmont Stakes and I get great pleasure from representing Ireland.'
Weld so often the man to follow at the summer festival here was recording his ninth winner of the week at Ballybrit.
'Pat (Smullen) employed the perfect tactics here. If your in front on the inner and your horse stays it's very hard to get by.' Weld added.
Weld has runners at Cork and Naas tomorrow as he bids to break the record and when asked when he thought the winner he needs would come he answered: 'It won't be long.'
John Bowles had a race against time to get Drewstown Lady ready for Galway and his efforts paid off handsomely when the mare landed the first division of the #30,000 High Speed Data Handicap Hurdle.
The daughter of Phardante showed admirable resolution to battle to a three-parts success over 11/4 favourite Gift Token with Blow Wind Blow a short-head back in third.
The 10/1 winner was settled of the pace set by Charlie Swan on Hot Bunny and improved from three out - being ridden to lead after the next. Blow Wind Blow and Gift Token threw down challenges in the straight but Drewstown Lady responded well for Barry Geraghty to lift the pot.
An unfortunate third on her last start at Bellewstown, when hampered badly two out, Bowles reported that the mare had returnedfrom the race with two swollen tendons.
'She was totally spread-eagled and was standing in her box for ten days. But she is as tough as old boots and it was always the plan to try and get her here.' added Bowles.
The second divison of the contest saw another cracking finish with Busy Signal staying on to some effect to give trainer Matty O'Toole his biggest winner to date.
A Leaders Wish, who had gone for home after two out, looked to have the race sewn up when coming to the last with a two length advantage but didn't jump the flight cleanly and Busy Signal responded well to the urgings of Jim Culloty to just edge him out in a photo.
O'Toole who trains locally in Turloughmore, has held a licence for just over a year and was celebrating his third winner at the festival.
'I'm absolutely delighted. It's by far my biggest win. We bought him out of France where he won two Flat races.' revealed the winning handler.
The biggest pot of the day went to the formidable partnership of Kevin Prendergast and Stephen Craine who teamed up to take the #50,000 Eircell ?What Boundaries' Handicap with Soorah.
Prendergast was not present to see his Wolfhound filly, a 12/1 shot, wear down the gallant Tushna, who tried to make all, inside the final furlong to record a half-length success with another half-length back to Irish Lady in third.
Grinkov, successful in the #25,000 Guinness Extra Stout Handicap here on Friday, made a winning return over timber but had to work hard to justify his price of 4/6 in the E-merge Maiden Hurdle.
Charlie Swan's mount still had four lengths to make up as Dariole took it up from leader Palouse at the second last. Grinkov and French Style were the challengers as Dariole led into the final flight and the pair fought it out in the closing stages with Grinkov just prevailing by half a length.
'That's three races he's won in a month now and will give him a break for a while.' said winning trainer Pat Hughes. 'He'll appreciates a bit of an ease, especially over hurdles.'
Sun Strand got off the mark over fences when scoring under a positive ride from Paul Carberry in the Ready To Go Beginners Chase.
Carberry sent the gelding to the front at the fifth fence and held off the challenges of Mykon Gold and Ceoil Agus Craic by a length and two-lengths to end a run of six seconds for trainer Noel Meade.
'I was thinking about the Plate for him but it became apparent that he wasn't going to get in at the weights. revealed Meade afterwards.
'He's very lazy and stays well - a real out-and-out stayer. He's the kind of horse that could run in a National someday. He's young and big and has great scope.'
Apprentice Tadhg O'Shea showed a cool head to steer Benefits Galore to success in the Western Cellular Handicap.
The young claimer found a gap 100 yards out on the 12/1 shot, going on to beat Crown Point by a length-and-a-half with a head back toSilver Spray in third.
Peter Fahey stole the concluding Eirtime Options Flat Race aboard Peace In Ireland, opening up a huge gap on the field early on and staying on as his rivals tried in vain to claw back the advantage.
The winner had six-lengths to spare at the line with 2/1 favourite Buffalo Bill chasing him home and he was in turn 20 lengths clear of the third-placed Kerry Man.
