A fond farewell to the retiring Sir Michael Stoute: An understated genius with a magic touch who is the definition of class and quality

Dusk was falling as Wanderlust, a little chestnut filly with a big white face, pottered out on to Nottingham’s racecourse and into the history books.

The crowd was small, no more than 400, but those gathered around the paddock were in no doubt about the significance of what they were seeing. Wanderlust was to be Sir Michael Stoute’s last turf runner, bringing the curtain down on 52 years of glory.

There was collective hope we would see something special, but Wanderlust lacks gears and, from a long way out in the one mile, six furlong handicap worth £4,335 to the winner, jockey Richard Kingscote knew his fate. The pair would finish last of 12.

‘It was not to be,’ commentator Tony Ennis told his audience. ‘We salute a racing great.’

As he said that, there was applause and rightly so. Stoute was not in attendance — he has not been on track since August 24, when he saddled a runner for the King and Queen at York — but him not being there and the result was inconsequential. This, simply, was a moment to recognise a giant.

Stoute announced in September that this season would be his last and while it was not a surprise, it was still a shock.

For generations of fans, the 78-year-old has always been there, the definition of class and quality.

Sandal, his first winner in April 1972, started a journey that saw him crowned champion trainer 10 times, win six Epsom Derbies, collect 155 Group One races and saddle 82 Royal Ascot winners, the pick of which was Estimate for Queen Elizabeth II in the 2013 Gold Cup. He was a genius.

‘Sir Michael trained some wonderful horses for the late Queen,’ John Warren, the Royal family’s racing manager, reflected. ‘During that time, Her Majesty thoroughly enjoyed watching and understanding his specific patient style of training.

‘He was always understated with his opinion until it mattered and the Queen recognised his deep understanding of what was required to bring each horse to its full potential. Latterly, both the King and Queen have made a number of trips to his yard.

‘They thoroughly enjoyed being shown their horses by Sir Michael and his wonderful staff. He also has a wicked sense of humour and I can’t remember a time, or a call, when he didn’t make it fun.’

Stoute had a reputation for being tight-lipped when the cameras were rolling, but catch him in private and you would immediately see he had joie de vivre, a fabulous raconteur with a loud and infectious laugh.

But his real gift was training horses, giving a thoroughbred all the time it needed to mature and fulfil its potential.

Shergar, the runaway winner of the 1981 Derby, will go down as his most famous horse, but he sculpted a huge number of masterpieces.

‘For nearly 40 years I’ve spent time with Sir Michael,’ says Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park Stud, long-term owners at Freemason Lodge. ‘We would stand together on the gallops on Saturdays in Newmarket and it was an education.

‘You could never see in a horse’s work what he saw, but there would be times he’d spin around and say “boom-biddy-boom” or whistle and you’d know he’d seen something special.

‘I particularly remember a gallop from Russian Rhythm in the spring of 2003. There was a sudden injection of speed and it was enough for Michael to turn, look at me and raise his eyebrows. He didn’t need to say anything.

‘We’d wondered whether to send Russian Rhythm to the 1,000 Guineas, but that was enough. She went to the race and won. They are magical memories.’

The great days — from the electricity of top miler Zilzal to Desert Crown, his last Epsom winner in 2022 — will never be forgotten.

‘Everyone knows he’s a gentleman,’ said Kingscote. ‘But what he has done, training top class horses for so long, is remarkable. It’s a shame it’s come to an end, but he’s well and that’s all that matters.

‘It’s been a privilege to have anything do with Sir Michael.’