On Sunday morning, as fathers around Australia were cracking open socks, jocks and chocolate blocks on their designated day, the fabulous Flightline was putting together a masterpiece - The Destruction At Del Mar.
Flightline found a flow state that Lao Tzu would have been proud of while putting together a 19.25-length rout of Dubai World Cup-winner Country Grammar that returned a Beyer Speed Figure of 126 - the second fastest figure since Beyer's famous figures went public in 1991.
Other ratings pundits rushed to their pulpits to deliver humility-lacking verdicts. They will find little resistance telling people what they want to hear. The facts and the figures are aligned with the feel. This was a significant moment in the history of thoroughbred racing.
And so naturally after the race questions turned immediately to 'what's next?' In a world full of wonders it is often wonder that is lacking...
Few games move on as quickly as racing where it seems every moment is met with the same questions - questions of what, where and when next? Perhaps racing's rapid regeneration is part of its charm, but it could do with pausing in the present on occasion.
Flightline pushed towards the frontier of possibility. From out on this margin he can almost only overpromise and underdeliver from here on. As trainer John Sadler put it: "He doesn't need to run more. Just enjoy the ones he runs in."
Joe Pride was channeling something similar at Saturday's Randwick meeting where the highest-rated performance of the week was produced by his outstanding Eduardo who was as good as ever returning as a nine-year-old with a Timeform rating of 125.
"Forget the age, he is an amazing athlete and you saw it again there today," said Pride which seems a polite way of saying you can shove the 'where to nexts' and just marvel at this wonderful racehorse in the moment. Forget what he may or may not do tomorrow. What did he achieve right now in the present?
Eduardo produced a seventh performance rated 120-or-better in a triumph over fashion and flair.
The four-years-younger Andermatt, by Snitzel out of a 116-rated mare and sporting Royal Blue, was the fashion. Sensationally backed to beat Eduardo despite just two ratings over 110 and a course that was playing favourably to Eduardo.
When the rain really rocks Randwick it can change the shape of things - measurably so. On Saturday is played like the dirt of Del Mar. Early speed was rewarded while those ridden to quicken were left to drown.
Early speed is Eduardo's one wood and his caddy, Nash Rawiller, knows how and when to use it.
The track raises questions. What is this form really worth? What did we learn and what will it mean in two and three weeks time?
But what's next is next. Eduardo and Flightline are like a fine wine - best enjoyed right here and now.
