SIR MICHAEL STOUTE sent out his last runner this week.
For most, he will go down as a legend of the sport, not bred into the game but a genius horseman.
After 52 years as a trainer, Stoute retires with over 4,000 winners, 16 British Classics, including half a dozen Derby victories headlined by the imperious Shergar, 10 trainers’ championships, 82 Royal Ascot winners, an Arc with Workforce and eight Breeders’ Cup successes.
PAWalter Swinburn on Shergar in the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster[/caption]
For someone like me, with no link to horse racing, Stoute has been a magical, almost mystical figure. A man of mystery too.
When racing first gripped me I’d heard of Shergar, but it was Shadeed, Sonic Lady and Bella Colora who were the first Stoute inmates to really get me going.
It says much about this game that Stoute would be the man to handle Colorspin and Opera House, who were both related to Bella Colora — a horse who in 1985 was upsides track record breaking Oh So Sharp and Al Bahathri in the best 1,000 Guineas of all time.
For many years, of course, Stoute’s stable rider was Ryan Moore, and the pair were made for each other.
As an interviewee, Stoute was a challenge, and you will know Moore is of similar ilk.
People often wonder why reporters bother with those who don’t want to answer questions.
Indeed, on social media I lost count many moons ago of the “Moore really hates Chapman doesn’t he” messages. As it happens, I’ve had many fascinating chats with Moore off camera, and have exchanged many private messages on industry matters.
Moore dislikes interviews and what he considers pointless questions, not people. The reason, however, those who do my job carry on talking to the likes of Stoute and Moore is in hope of a ‘moment’, whatever that might be.
I’ve had some quite extraordinary working relationships down the years — ones I feel grew into a form of friendship. On that, naturally, I can only speak for myself.
One of them has been with Martin Pipe, another with the late great Sir Henry Cecil.
A few years ago, when I was allowed to do a ‘Legends’ series on the old Attheraces, I spoke to Sir Henry about Sir Michael.
“He’s very difficult to beat,” said Cecil. “We had great rivalry.
“We were jealous of each other if he doesn’t mind admitting it!
“I’ve always had great respect for Michael and he’s a very good trainer. I can say we are friends.”
During that conversation I felt Cecil’s total admiration for Stoute.
It was real.
That alone tells you what a trainer the Barbados-born Stoute (below) has been.
I’ve always wondered why Sir Henry or Pipe spoke to me in the way they did. Ultimately, I suspect it’s because I came with no baggage, no agenda.
And I never betrayed them once. It’s the same now with Aidan O’Brien. I’ve missed stories and ‘exclusives’ from all three, and winced when someone else has delivered something I knew.
But trust is important. I’d hope Pipe and Cecil could both say I never let them down, on the record or off it. O’Brien the same.
Sadly I never had the opportunity to get to know Stoute in the same way but there have been some ‘moments’ along the way I will never forget.
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One came not so long ago in an interview about Desert Crown which came after Passenger had won at Newmarket.
When I asked Sir Michael whether the Arc was the ultimate aim, Stoute did what Stoute has always done so well in that he started to walk away while commenting “Oh, come on, relax!”
But it was in a more recent interview with Sir Michael ahead of the Breeders’ Cup via World Horse Racing I got to see why so many have taken to him including, of course, his beloved late wife Coral Pritchard-Gordon.
Stoute was in cheeky form, particularly about my hair which he took a dislike to and described is as “could be done better” and “you don’t call that a style do you? It’s just a coincidence.”
I did my best to give back as good as I got, though, reminding Sir Michael it took him 15 tries before he finally won a Breeders’ Cup race.
That said, he did do it in style in 1996 with a Turf one-two thanks to Pilsudski and Singspiel.
At moments during our chat Sir Michael did manage to relax and even roared with laughter at times. He also had a wicked twinkle in his eye.
I left thinking I had just experienced the ‘real’ Sir Michael Stoute (left).
Brilliant, funny, a shade naughty. And yes, magical.
I hope he realises just what he has meant to so many of us.
Yeeehaaa
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