Prendergast's old allies on the mark at Down Royal Declan McDonogh registered a timely third success in two days today, as the former champion jockey steered the Joseph O’Brien-trained North Coast (4/5f) to win Down Royal’s BoyleSports Median Auction Maiden. Unplaced with one Royal Ascot ride on Tuesday, McDonogh registered a Leopardstown double yesterday and steered all-the-way winner North Coast to an appropriate success, following today’s passing of his former employer Kevin Prendergast. Regarding Prendergast’s passing, O’Brien’s representative Mick Halford, who retired from training in January, mentioned “Kevin was a master on the Curragh when I started. He was somebody I always looked up to, his horses were always a credit to him. "He was a great man to talk to, a great man for advice, and for a bit of slagging! He was a lovely man and I had a lot of time for him and he will be sadly missed on the Curragh. He led a full life and was a great example to us all." O’Brien’s Nurburgring and Galen were narrow Ascot runner-up losers this week and, at Down Royal, Halford added "North Coast put his experience to good use, I'd say he enjoyed the extra furlong and he stepped forward well from his debut run. "He is a very straightforward horse with a great mind and Declan kept it simple. He got a bit unbalanced over the road but he said when he gathered him up, he strode out great from there home. He was always comfortable. "It is great to get a maiden win and he's had the two runs now, so can go where he likes with him." Quotes from Michael Graham
