Veteran trainer plots another shock
VETERAN: TRAINER BILLY PRESTAGE HAS HIS ‘BEST EVER’ LOOKING STRONG Brave front-runner is a decent Eachway bet at odds of 10-1
Ayear ago veteran trainer Billy Prestage scored the biggest win of a long career when his stalwart Milton was a shock 22-1 winner of the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Premier Trophy, snuffing out the unbeaten record of heavy favourite Last Winter in the process.
Seven-year-old Milton is back to defend his title in the 1800m, R400,00 event this Saturday and 83-year-old Prestage is happy with how the gelding has been doing in preparations for the big race.
“He’s the best horse I’ve ever had,” said the conditioner. “He is doing very well and looking strong. I’m very happy with him and looking forward to a good run.
“If he runs well on Saturday, we’ll probably have a go at the Sun Met, but nothing is decided at this stage.”
Milton – owned by Prestage and his wife – has won nine times from 43 career starts, with 20 other placings to his credit.
The perennial front-runner comes into the race off an easy win, when he was allowed to burgle a huge lead in a 2000m Pinnacle Stakes race at Kenilworth three weeks ago.
While Milton is unlikely to be allowed as much leeway again, he looks to have Eachway prospects in a field without an obvious standout.
Yesterday, the son of Lateral was quoted at 10-1 in ante-post betting for Saturday’s race. The favourite is Tap O’ Noth at 3-1.
Prestage was born in Cape Town and grew up surrounded by horses as his Irish-born father Bob was a farrier and a trainer in the city.
“I rode quite a few winners while still at school as an amateur in the days of the Durbanville Gymkhana Club.
“Most of my rides were for George Brown, who was a big gambler, so it was quite lucrative. I think I was making more than my headmaster at Sea Point Boys’ High was at the time,” he chuckles.
His father had his biggest training moments with leased horse Foreign Agent.
He was second in the Queen’s Plate and third in the Met to the great Sledgehammer in 1975, returning to be fourth in the Met a year later when another legend, Gatecrasher, won.
Prestage junior eventually took over the yard, but was forced to take a seven-year break from the game from 1994 when his business demanded too much of his time.
Kovco, the business in question, is now run by his son Brendan and is the largest independent refrigeration and air conditioning wholesaler in Southern Africa.
Prestage is the oldest trainer in Cape Town and the second most senior in the country.
“Ormond Ferraris is a bit older than me. I get on really well with him and we speak now and again.”
With regard to the future, he is philosophical.
“I only have seven horses now, but I have a couple of juveniles I am very happy with. I always say I am going to stop, but I don’t think I can.”