Charlie Appleby and William Buick were left proud after Rebel’s Romance put up a stellar defence of his Breeders’ Cup Turf crown.
Already a two-time winner of the contest, Charlie Appleby's charge returned to Del Mar looking to make history and successfully defend his crown.
Always well-positioned by Buick from stall one behind front-running Silawi, he moved powerfully into contention after rounding the bend and struck the front with a handful of furlongs to travel.
However, all the while the eye was drawn to Ethical Diamond and although Rebel's Romance continued to battle away once headed, he had no response for the Willie Mullins-trained Ebor hero, who swept past to score in taking style.
Despite suffering defeat on what was quickly becoming something of a favoured playground, Appleby and Buick were left feeling proud.
"I'm just glad Willie Mullins doesn't train too many flat horses!" said Appleby. "A little bit of traffic for Rebel's Romance, but in fairness, I don't think it made that much difference, really, as the winner's picked up well and come with a wet sail.
"We always said when he finished outside the first three that might be the day, but he has shown us he's not ready to lie down yet.
"When Will gave him the office, I thought he was going to create his own history, but the winner flew and we kept on.
"What I've just seen, he is just as competitive as ever. He's finished in the first two and will embark on his usual winter campaign in Qatar and Dubai."
Buick added: "I got a beautiful trip, the trip we wanted and the trip we worked out beforehand. Look, I'm so proud of this horse. You'd love to have seen him win, of course, but he ran his heart out. He's so consistent."
Whilst Rebel's Romance ran a race full of admiration and guts, Minnie Hauk appeared slightly lacklustre on the back of her gruelling runner-up effort behind Daryz in the Arc.
"They just went very fast, and she just got trapped out a little bit," said O'Brien. "I think she'll stay in training next year."
Christophe Soumillion said: "She never really settled, and when I asked her to take some blows, she never took them. So, I think she just over-raced today.
"I don't know if you could say this race today was too much, but she wasn't like she was last time in Longchamp.
"She was a little bit more nervous today and the race didn't suit us. When Silawi got tired before the last corner, it made me and Mickael have to come off the bridle a little bit early, but she never responded like she usually does.
"I think she over raced which was the main problem."
