The world's best horses met in the desert and the inaugural Dubai World Cup couldn't have received a more unanimous verdict.
The richest race in the world was billed as a showdown, and it proved to be one of the most exhilarating championship races ever staged, with top American entry Cigar crowned as a true world champion.
It wasn't as easy as his Breeder's Cup Classic triumph, but Allen Paulson's entire was racing out of his own backyard for the first time with an interrupted preparation. In the post-race furore it was impossible to find anyone who didn't believe it was Cigar's finest hour.
The problem most pundits are having is quantifying just how good he was.
The traditional form handicappers seem to be running round in circles and those that are willing to put a figure to the win have come up with ratings ranging from 125 to around the 140 mark - an unprecedented spread for such a high-profile contest.
The problem is two-fold. Not only have the handicappers got to decide on which, if any, horses ran to form but on the surface they also have to choose what pounds per length conversion to employ.