It was a Wednesday morning in July 2019 and Sir Michael Stoute had agreed to a rare audience ahead of Ascot’s summer showpiece.
Myself and Paul Hayward, who was then the Daily Telegraph’s Chief Sports Writer, had been invited to Freemason’s Lodge, Stoute’s home on Newmarket’s Bury Road, to talk about some of the great days he had enjoyed in The King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
We had arrived, promptly, at 11am and he was waiting on the courtyard outside his stables. He’s a big, imposing man and has a reputation for not giving much away when the tapes are recording.
‘Hello Sir Michael,’ I began.
‘No, none of that. It’s Michael,’ he replied, putting us at ease. ‘You’re the one who writes on football, aren’t you? Come on then – what’s going on with Pogba?’
Sir Michael Stoute, 78, is one of the greatest ever trainers in the history of horse racing
Stoute has been the Champion Trainer 10 times and is a legendary figure in the racing world
Stoute enjoyed enormous success, spearheaded by his six victories in the Epsom Derby
Immediately, it was clear this morning was going to be different. Stoute is like many sportsmen – pin an interview on them that focuses solely on their given field and there is a high possibility of them going through the motions. Find another way around the defence, however, and you could strike gold. We did.
Stoute, his eyes dancing with inquisitiveness, began discussing cricket and his friendship with the West Indian great Michael Holding, who used to spend most summers with him. He talked about rugby, football, his fascination with Brian Clough and all things he had learnt from being in Sir Alex Ferguson’s company.
What were they?
‘Listen here,’ Stoute said, leaning out of his armchair and pausing for effect as if ready to reveal some untold secret about one of his former owners. ‘He told me not to tell you!’
There were gales of laughter as he delivered what felt like a punch line, his animation such that he slapped Paul on the knee for good measure. The accompanying thwack could be heard at the other end of the Rowley Mile.
Now he had warmed up, there was no stopping him. We went back through the ages, listening in raptures as he told stories about Shergar, the horse of fantasy and tragedy whose career he sculpted meticulously, and other famous triumphs, such as Harbinger’s destruction of the 2010 King George field.
‘That is the best middle-distance performance that ANY of my horses have ever achieved,’ he insisted.
Yet through the one-liners and wise cracks, there was candour and reflection. He was 73 then and made it clear he would not be adding to the 10 trainers championships he had won since saddling that first winner in April 1972.
‘Listen I just want to remain competitive, for us to be a successful unit,’ he said. ’Keep the staff happy with a good income. That’s what I am looking for.’
He took us then for a walk around the yard, down the stairs from the lounge through to his office. The walls were festooned with pictures of giants: Pilsudski, Opera House, Workforce, Estimate, Zilzal, Conduit, Singspiel and plenty more besides.
And this was brought it all home. There were champions everywhere, horses who would have made generations fall in love with the sport. Stoute was always happiest letting his horses do the talking and for the last 52 years, they have shouted from the rooftops that he was a genius.
During an audience with Stoute in July 2019, the 78-year-old was a joy to spend time with
His most recent Derby hero was Desert Crown in 2022, jockeyed by Richard Kingscote (left)
It has made the last two years difficult to watch, in some respects. In a sport blissfully free of tribalism, there has been a burning desire for Stoute to have one more crack at the big time with a horse of outstanding speed and athleticism.
We hoped it would be Desert Crown, who had scurried away with the Epsom Derby in 2022 but injury robbed him of reaching his full potential; we then hoped earlier this year it would be Passenger, the nimble colt who left the Chester crowd gasping in May.
The world looked to be at Passenger’s feet when he zipped around Chester’s turns like a motorbike, thrashing Israr – a horse who would go on to run away with the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot – by daylight in the Huxley Stakes. Again, however, injury intervened and Passenger won’t be travelling anywhere soon.
Recently, Stoute took the wraps off a promising two-year-old colt called Jonquil at Sandown and a filly by the name of Formal (successful at Leicester on Tuesday) and, perhaps, they will be the ones to give the now 78-year-old a final hurrah but their Classic campaigns will be mapped out by someone else.
Nobody can begrudge Stoute the opportunity to wind down quietly. The last few years have been difficult, personally, as he has never got over the loss of his beloved partner, Coral Pritchard-Gordon, in August 2020, and without her by his side, some of the joy has gone. He deserves our best wishes.
Still, it will take some adjustment to know that 2025 will be the first year without Stoute’s name appearing in a racecard. He tried incredibly hard that morning five years ago to play down all he had done but the truth is he created equine masterpieces and stormed into people’s affections.
‘You never lose your love of the game or that zest for success,’ he reflected. ‘But when the day arrives, I hope I will know not to stand on the order of my going when the time comes to **** off!’
To maintain the theme, there was another bellow of laughter that filled the room. So there is something of an irony, looking back now, that the realisation it will soon be over only leaves us empty. He really has been one of a kind.
In 2013, Stoute trained the late Queen Elizabeth’s horse Estimate to victory in the Gold Cup
The realisation that Stoute’s time as a trainer will soon be over only leaves us feeling empty
MY THREE STOUTE FAVOURITES
Readers will have their own views and memories but this observer has picked out the three horses from Stoute’s glorious career who meant the most
1. Pilsudski – Perhaps it was the pale blue silks of his owner, Lord Weinstock, or his beautiful bay colour but this colt was absolutely magnificent. Won five Group Ones, could easily have won eight and Stoute adored his toughness.
2. Kalanisi – The training of the Aga Khan colt was outstanding. He had the misfortune to run into Giant’s Causeway in the Coral Eclipse and Juddmonte International but went onto win the Champion Stakes at Newmarket and the Breeders Cup Turf in 2000.
3. Desert Crown – His last Derby winner in 2022. If you have time, re-watch the ITV replay of when he quickened three furlongs out and put the race to bed in an instant. This was equine brilliance. A tragedy he didn’t win the races his talent entitled him to.
Let me know your views at dominic.king@dailymail.co.uk
