Des Lake
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
A top rider in his native Australia, Des Lake rode in Europe for just one full season, in 1966, but made a big impression during that year. Based in Ireland, he was the retained jockey for the mighty Paddy Prendergast stable.
A top rider in his native Australia, Des Lake rode in Europe for just one full season, in 1966, but made a big impression during that year. Based in Ireland, he was the retained jockey for the mighty Paddy Prendergast stable.
Desmond Lake was born in Australia on August 18, 1942. He served a four-year apprenticeship with R J Wallis and rode his first winner on August 28, 1958. He had his first ride in Europe on a two-year-old named Limbo, finishing ninth, in the opening race of the Irish Flat season at Baldoyle on March 17, 1966. Two days later he rode his first European winner, Gay Cloud at Phoenix Park.
Desmond Lake was born in Australia on August 18, 1942. He served a four-year apprenticeship with R J Wallis and rode his first winner on August 28, 1958. He had his first ride in Europe on a two-year-old named Limbo, finishing ninth, in the opening race of the Irish Flat season at Baldoyle on March 17, 1966. Two days later he rode his first European winner, Gay Cloud at Phoenix Park.
Although riding mainly for Paddy Prendergast, some British trainers were keen to put him up, including Sam Armstrong, for whom Des rode a double on First Date and Saints And Sinners at Windsor on June 24, and followed up on First Date at Newmarket’s July Meeting. Back at Ascot, he finished third in the ‘King George’ on Prominer behind Aunt Edith and Sodium.
Although riding mainly for Paddy Prendergast, some British trainers were keen to put him up, including Sam Armstrong, for whom Des rode a double on First Date and Saints And Sinners at Windsor on June 24, and followed up on First Date at Newmarket’s July Meeting. Back at Ascot, he finished third in the ‘King George’ on Prominer behind Aunt Edith and Sodium.
Des won the last two races on the Thursday Glorious Goodwood, namely the Gordon Stakes on Khalekan and the Lavant (2yo) Stakes on First Date. They were the first of a remarkable 12 consecutive winners: he rode double at Leopardstown on July 30, a four-timer at Baldoyle on August 1, a treble at Phoenix Park on August 3, followed by another there when winning on Kit Kat on Saturday, August 6. But then his luck ran out in the Phoenix Stakes (unlucky 13) when he finished sixth on Golden Pal.
Des won the last two races on the Thursday Glorious Goodwood, namely the Gordon Stakes on Khalekan and the Lavant (2yo) Stakes on First Date. They were the first of a remarkable 12 consecutive winners: he rode double at Leopardstown on July 30, a four-timer at Baldoyle on August 1, a treble at Phoenix Park on August 3, followed by another there when winning on Kit Kat on Saturday, August 6. But then his luck ran out in the Phoenix Stakes (unlucky 13) when he finished sixth on Golden Pal.
At York’s Ebor Meeting he could only finish fourth on Khalekan in the Great Voltigeur Stakes but he gained a small measure of compensation by winning the Convivial Maiden on Prince Piper.
At York’s Ebor Meeting he could only finish fourth on Khalekan in the Great Voltigeur Stakes but he gained a small measure of compensation by winning the Convivial Maiden on Prince Piper.
Des rated Paddy Prendergast’s Bold Lad as the best he rode. They followed up their Coventry Stakes victory by adding Doncaster’s Champagne Stakes beating Lester Piggott’s mount Ribocco, and then Newmarket’s Middle Park Stakes, defeating Joe Mercer’s mount Golden Horus.
Des rated Paddy Prendergast’s Bold Lad as the best he rode. They followed up their Coventry Stakes victory by adding Doncaster’s Champagne Stakes beating Lester Piggott’s mount Ribocco, and then Newmarket’s Middle Park Stakes, defeating Joe Mercer’s mount Golden Horus.
In his first race as a three-year-old, Bold Lad won the Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh in April, albeit narrowly, having a harder race than anticipated. Des then rode him in the Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket, but was badly hampered when holding every chance two furlongs out and eventually finished fifth behind Royal Palace.
In his first race as a three-year-old, Bold Lad won the Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh in April, albeit narrowly, having a harder race than anticipated. Des then rode him in the Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket, but was badly hampered when holding every chance two furlongs out and eventually finished fifth behind Royal Palace.
Des enjoyed better luck at Chester’s May Meeting, riding three winners there including the Chester Vase on Paddy Prendergast’s Great Host. However, he elected to ride stable companion Dominion Day in the Derby. Having held every chance entering the straight, Dominion Day faded to finish eleventh, two places in front of Great Host.
Des enjoyed better luck at Chester’s May Meeting, riding three winners there including the Chester Vase on Paddy Prendergast’s Great Host. However, he elected to ride stable companion Dominion Day in the Derby. Having held every chance entering the straight, Dominion Day faded to finish eleventh, two places in front of Great Host.
At Royal Ascot it was a matter of close but no cigar, finishing third on Bold Lad in the St James’s Palace Stakes and second on Empress Sissi in the Cork and Orrery.
At Royal Ascot it was a matter of close but no cigar, finishing third on Bold Lad in the St James’s Palace Stakes and second on Empress Sissi in the Cork and Orrery.
In Ireland, he finished second in the Two Thousand Guineas on Kingfisher and third in the One Thousand Guineas on Lauravella. In the 1967 Irish Derby he rode outsider Sovereign Slipper, finishing a distant sixteenth.
In Ireland, he finished second in the Two Thousand Guineas on Kingfisher and third in the One Thousand Guineas on Lauravella. In the 1967 Irish Derby he rode outsider Sovereign Slipper, finishing a distant sixteenth.
Six days later, Friday, July 7, Des had what turned out to be his final ride in Ireland, finishing third on Clonmannon at the Curragh. He returned home to Australia soon after, never to return.
Six days later, Friday, July 7, Des had what turned out to be his final ride in Ireland, finishing third on Clonmannon at the Curragh. He returned home to Australia soon after, never to return.