KEVIN WAS ONE OF THE GREATS

TRIBUTES have been paid to multiple Classic-winning trainer Kevin Prendergast, who died yesterday at the age of 92.

- BY BRIAN FLANAGAN

Prendergast, who took out a licence in 1963, was the son of the legendary Paddy 'Darkie' Prendergast - the first Irish-based trainer to become champion in Britain in 1963 and who saddled the winners of all the British Classics except the Derby.

Prendergast jnr cut his own swathe through the racing ranks, winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket with Nebbiolo in 1977 and taking the Irish equivalent twice, most recently with Awtaad in 2016. Like his father, he just missed out on the Derby when Madhmoon was beaten half a length by Anthony Van Dyck in 2019.

Both Awtaad and Madhmoon ran in the colours of the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell operation and were ridden by Chris Hayes, who had a long association with Prendergast.

He said: "I started out calling him 'sir' and that moved on to boss and we had a very close relationship, especially in the latter years. He was like a father or grandfather figure and we spoke closely and candidly.