Minutes to go before the start of the Budweiser Irish Derby and it doesn't look good for the odds-on favourite Galileo. He is sweating so profusely that his jockey, Mick Kinane, grabs a tussock of grass and wipes him down.
At 4/11 odds, Galileo is beyond the limits of most ordinary punters. Only the well-heeled are on him but everybody wants him to win. He is unbeaten in four starts and there is much speculation that he could be one of the greats. He destroyed a high-class field in the Epsom Derby three weeks ago. "Galileo is a superstar," says Ben O'Leary, who owns some horses himself. "I've been betting 40 years and he's the best I've ever seen."
"I've nothing on Galileo - the price is beyond people like me - but I had to come to see him," says Sean McMahon, from Dublin.
John Hennessy, from Rathnure, Co Wexford, knew Galileo's trainer, Aidan O'Brien, as a boy. "He used to sweep the stables and now look at him. I've no money on Galileo but I'm praying he wins." There are no celebrities at the Curragh but there is a heavy turn-out of politicians. The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, is deep in conversation with trainer Ted Walsh. The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, is holding court in a huge cream hat. Agriculture Minister Mr Walsh and Justice Minister Mr O'Donoghue are also there. Somebody spots Gay Byrne with his wife Kathleen.
Galileo is fifth or sixth for most of the race. He's cruising. With two furlongs to go, he sweeps to the front. It's an awesome sight. There's a huge roar from the crowd. Galileo's greatness is beyond doubt.
It's Mick Kinane's first Irish Derby win in 18 attempts and the jockey, who never usually does more than raise a crinkled ginger eyebrow in victory, salutes triumphantly to the crowd. "Give us a smile, Mick," somebody shouts. The jockey duly obliges.
It's a family affair for Aidan O'Brien. His four young children are dressed for the day - the girls in straw hats and the boys in smart waistcoats. They look at Galileo in wonder.
Their father presents the horse's talents in the most simple terms. "He finds it very easy to go very fast . . . From the moment he was born, he was something special. Everything he did suggested he would be a champion."