The five-day Royal Ascot festival kicks off today and it is, in the words of veteran trainer Kevin Prendergast - "the Mecca of racing."
Prendergast, who is only a few weeks short of his 84th birthday, travels over to the epicentre of English high society with Awtaad - one of the joint-favourites for the St James' Palace Stakes - the race that will go a long way towards deciding the best miler in racing today. Chris Hayes, Prendergast's go-to man and one of the most talented jockeys riding anywhere today will take the ride.
Awtaad has won four of his five races in his career so far - his only defeat came on his racecourse debut when he was a bit "babyish" according to Prendergast.
Since then, the three-year-old has been sensational - never more so than when winning the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh - Prendergast's home track - and in the process, overturning the English 2000 Guineas winner and hot-favourite, Galileo Gold. The race is an unusual one - it features the winners of the Irish 2000 Guineas in Awtaad, Galileo Gold (English 2000 Guineas) and The Gurkha (French 2000 Guineas).
Despite his status as one of the top dogs of Irish racing, and the fact that he has the guts of 50 years experience in the game - Prendergast - speaking exclusively to Balls.ie - admits that the nerves will be a factor as he arrives at Royal Ascot.
"I always suffer from a bit of nerves. No matter where the race. But I know winning this race would be the crowning glory for me and my career."
Should Awtaad win the race at 4.20 tomorrow, Prendergast would have to enter the Royal Enclosure to receive his prize. Putting on a top hat and tails and a potential meeting with the Queen are no bother to him though.
"When you go to the best place, you have to put on the best suit. I don't mind it a bit. I've had winners there before. I won a double there in 1997 but usually I have the poor man's horse going there. This fella is a bit different. My owner (Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum) will not be there because Ramadan is on but we will try to do our best for him.
"He has been working very well but then again, he has never worked badly in his life. You'd be surprised if he didn't do what he is supposed to do.
We always thought he was good - but you have to wait until you run them to find out. There are plenty of morning glorys. It's like in football - there are plenty of fellas who are great in football but they cannot kick snow off a rope once you get them in Croke Park. He won his maiden in Leopardstown and we've suspected we might have one then."
Prendergast won't be burdening his jockey, Limerick man Chris Hayes, with the wisdom gleaned from his decades at the top of Irish racing.
"He's ridden him five times and he's won four of them - so I won't be telling him too much. [In the Irish 2000 Guineas] I only told him not to go too soon on him."
Hayes also spoke exclusively to Balls.ie and he is equally as excited as the trainer he works for.
"Look, it's a great feeling. Tomorrow when I go into the weigh-room, it's different because I'm on one of the favourites. When you look at the favourites - you've got Ryan Moore on The Gurkha for Aidan O'Brien, you've got Frankie Dettori on Galileo Gold and then you've got me.
"I've been looking up to those fellas for as long as I remember so it'll be a great feeling to be in there with a horse that has a right chance. When you look at the form in the book - Awtaad is the best horse in the race and if anyone was to improve it would be Aidan's horse (The Gurkha) so that's why it's so tight between us."
"I just know that I am very happy with the horse and it'd be great to do it for the boss who has always been so good to me. One of my friends and my girlfriend are coming over too - so it'll be a great day. I've been over there before riding outsiders - and I don't have journalists like you ringing me when I am riding those horses."
Awtaad is the best horse in the race. Hayes should get used to plenty more attention from journalists.
