So so it seemed like - excuse the pun - a flash suggestion for the Oamaru man to get involved with a 4yr-old named Flash Suggestion.
That decision to take part-ownership in his first horse in 11 years paid off yesterday with Flash Suggestion's maiden victory over 1200m at the Oamaru Jockey Club's meeting at Oamaru Racecourse.
Willett has raced seven horses with the Prendergasts and all have won. Willetts said the best was Border Callant, who won nine races including the 2004 Kumara Gold Nuggets.
After running fourth in the Waikouaiti Cup a year later, Border Callant was all set to defend his Nuggets title until the meeting was called off five minutes before the race. Several days later, he loomed wide in the Greymouth Cup, only to step in a hole and break down.
Flash Suggestion arrived south after not appreciating the rain-affected tracks when based with Bob and Jenny Vance in South Auckland.
``He showed a bit up there, but his last two or three starts were on wet tracks and he didn't manage the wet tracks,'' Prendergast said.
``He's come at the right time when the tracks are getting a little better.''
By contrast, Riccarton trainer Danny Crozier said the abandonment of the Oamaru meeting last Thursday and subsequent rescheduling to yesterday probably worked in the favour of rating 65 1200m winner Mr Conductor.
The son of Tickets arrived at Crozier's in the spring after failing a vet inspection to be sold overseas.
``It was probably a blessing in disguise that they pulled the pin the other day because I think the track would have been too firm for him,'' Crozier said.
``He's a pretty good galloper - I thought he could win but he ended up short enough [at $3.90 to win].''
Mr Conductor has been hit or bust so far in his career. Yesterday's win was his third in 10 starts, but he is yet to record a minor placing.
Pam Hughes was relieved to get a start with Gottagetmywoohoo in the rating 75 1600m, let alone a win.
The son of Iffraaj had been out of the winner's circle since clearing maidens at Timaru in October 2014, and his form had made it doubly difficult for Hughes and her co-training husband Kevin to place.
''For probably the last 12 months, we've been struggling to get starts in rating 65s because he's been struggling to hold points,'' she said.
``But now he's done that in rating 75, we'll have a few points to play with and we'll be able to look through the book with a bit more certainty.''
Jockey Courtney Barnes put the 5yr-old up outside the leader which gave him every chance.
``It was a beautiful ride by Courtney - he's such a big striding horse you've got to get him into a rhythm,'' Hughes said.
