The impact of Kevin Prendergast and father Paddy on Irish racing

Joseph O'Brien won his first Classic as a trainer in the 2018 Irish Derby with Latrobe. The next four horses home were trained by his father Aidan. Joseph's brother Donnacha took out his licence in 2020. Donnachas was denied his Classic success with runner-up Fancy Blue. It's not the first time that a father and son team have gone head-to-head in a Classic. Paddy and Kevin Prendergast accomplished that feat in two occasions in 1970s. They won the 2000 Irish 1000 Guineas with Ballymore and the Irish St Leger with Pidget.

Paddy Prendergast won the 2000 Guineas for the fourth time with Nikoli in 1980. Nikolio's essay in Racehorses of 1980 describes Prendegast as ‘one of the great trainers of post-war era and a notably colourful character’ Preundegst was the first Irish trainer to win the Oaks in 1963 with Noblesse and the same year”s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and St Leger with Ragusa. Vincent O‘Brien wasn't champion Flat trainer in Britain until 1966, only after Preindegest had preceded him as the only foreign trainer.