One week ago during the final day of eventing at Paris 2024, the golden spectre of the Chateau de Versailles in the middle distance evoked the air of a mirage.
Fast forward to this Monday, which was not a bank holiday in Paris as it was back home, and there was no sense that a sighting of the grand palace was a trick of the eye.
And nor was the apparition of two of Team Ireland's riders locking out the top two spots of the Individual Show Jumping qualifier leaderboard for what felt like an age.
Versailles was again at the mercy of the sun but Shane Sweetnam and Daniel Coyle, aboard their trusty steeds James Kann Cruz and Legacy, tamed the elements and gave more impetus to the notion that Ireland's unprecedented chapter of Olympic medals over the last week is not necessarily close to being bookended.
Taking up a spot right behind the white picket fence that provided the only barrier between some journalists, photographers, Paris volunteers and the equestrian action, one was close enough to hear the panting of the horses as they steeled themselves ahead of the next hurdle to vault.
The other sound to keep an ear out for was the 40,000 spectators whose collective intake of breathe, to break the long silences, constantly gave accurate feedback as to when an obstacle had not been successfully negotiated.
It had been a mixed bag for the early riders by the time lucky number 13 was called to the arena by the PA announcer.
Sweetnam arrived through the gate and as the silence descended on that corner of Versailles - the only sound being the clip-clopping of James Kann Cruz's hooves on the gravel - the Corkman began methodically negotiating the first obstacles at the far end of the arena closest to where the chateau loomed in the distance.
As man and horse moved closer to the picket fence, the silence had not been broken. A good sign. Next up was a triplet of obstacles in quick succession, dubbed Champs-Élysées, 10A, 10B and 10C.
Again, 40,000 exhalations remained contained within lungs as Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz fluidly slinked up and down to tackle the turn.
Again, not a bother and finally after obstacle number 14, the sound barrier was broken as the venue erupted in claps and cheers and Sweetnam raised a fist in the air in triumph as he passed the white picket fence.
No faults and a swift time of 73.35, plenty to be happy with. But this was only entry number 13 out of more than 70 and there was a long way to go.
Two of his Team Ireland team-mates were still to come. So it was a case of sitting back and waiting until number 37 - Coyle - was called.
Entries came and went and yet still sitting pretty at the top of the qualifier leaderboard was Sweetnam, as the PA reminded spectators after every few runs.
Few threatened his supremacy as most found an obstacle or two too many and the margin for error was getting thinner with only the top 30 advancing to Tuesday's final.
And then came Coyle on Legacy. Like Sweetnam, the Derry native and his horse kept the spectators' breathe trapped within their chests as the two swept from obstacle to obstacle.
Again, it was only when they leapt over number 14 that the silence was cracked again. A quick glance at the leaderboard and it was a case of double vision for Irish eyes.
Sweetnam was still top but Coyle had slotted right behind him into second just 0.29 seconds slower.
And now one would have to wait until number 63 when Cian O'Connor and Maurice would complete the Irish set.
And yet the rest of the 30s came and went. So did the 40s and still nobody could dislodge the two Irish from the top of the standings.
It was only when France's Julien Epaillard, entry number 53 and accompanied by the type of raucous atmosphere that all home athletes have been receiving in Paris did Sweetnam drop off top spot.
He and Coyle were long assured of a place in Tuesday's final. But could Team Ireland make it three finalists?
When number 63 was called, there was no sign of O'Connor nor Maurice. The explanation, delivered by the PA in both French and English, was that Maurice had lost a shoe which would need to be replaced.
So other entries were pushed forward in the interim before the horse and its rider, the London 2012 bronze medalist, finally emerged for their belated turn.
But unfortunately for O'Connor, unlike his two team-mates, one obstacle proved problematic. They still got round the rest of the course and in a solid time of 75.15.
But the four faults for failing to negotiate that one fence left him 30th, a whisker inside the cut line with more entries to come.
A nervous wait but not one that led to salvation as O'Connor and Maurice slipped down to 33rd and out of contention for the final. It was agonisingly close though with Germany's Philipp Weishaupt on Zineday taking the 30th spot less than two seconds quicker.
"He jumped really well... and has been a fantastic horse all year for me. Just touched one fence off today" - No regrets for Cian O'Connor despite narrowly missing out on the show jumping final on Maurice
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 5, 2024
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It was a blow but a philosophical O'Connor teed up his team-mates' chances to potentially deliver medals in the final, having finished second and third in qualifying.
"James Kann Cruz jumped one of the best rounds I've ever seen him jump, Daniel's mare has really been on a role and on fire and he's riding super, so I'll certainly be here to cheer them on," he told RTÉ Sport.
"They've got a really got a good chance to medal, both of them hopefully."
As he did add, show jumping is a sport by its nature where it's difficult to rely on the previous day's performance.
But if both Sweetnam and Coyle can come close to how they performed on Monday, they have every chance of adding a medal - or two - to what's already an all-time national record of seven at an Olympics.
So with appetites whetted, all eyes will be on Versailles and not because of its splendour.
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