The death has been announced of renowned trainer Kevin Prendergast at the age of 92.
Prendergast, son of the legendary Paddy 'Darkie' Prendergast, was a leading amateur jockey before taking out a trainer's licence in 1963.
Starting with Pidget's victory in the 1972 Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Curragh handler would go on to win eight Classics at home, the last of which was Awtaad's victory in the 2,000 Guineas in 2016.
His sole English Classic success came when Nebbiolo triumphed at the 1977 Newmarket 2,000 Guineas.
Like his father, he just missed out on the Epsom Derby when Madhmoon was beaten half a length by Anthony Van Dyck in 2019
In all, Kevin Prendergast trained more than 2,000 winners. His last winner was Copie Conforme, ridden by Chris Hayes at Bellewstown last August.
Hayes, who had a long association with the later trainer, 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.
"I had the utmost respect for him. You could always ring Kevin at the drop of a hat and vice versa - he would have no problem ringing me even up to last week telling me if I had given one a good ride or a bad ride. I'd always enjoy ringing him up for a chat."
Hayes' first Group One success for Prendergast was La Collina, but it is memories of their Classic success together at the Curragh nine years ago with Awtaad which the 37-year-old treasures most from their long association.
Hayes continued: "La Collina was my first Group One winner for Kevin, but Awtaad was the first horse that was mine - I inherited La Collina from Declan McDonogh.
"Obviously there were also some great days with Madhmoon who came after Awtaad. But Awtaad's Guineas was phenomenal.
"It was the old Curragh and the cheer we got on the way in, I haven't heard one like it since. I've been around a while and I never heard a cheer like that before that either and that cheer was all for Kevin and solely Kevin. People say it was for us, but it wasn't, it was for Kevin.
"He's a legend around Kildare and a legend in the racing game and people were 10 deep around the winner's enclosure desperate to congratulate him.
"When I got the news this morning I couldn't help but look back through some pictures from that day in the car. We had some phenomenal times together and today is a sad day."
