From the Caribbean to the Classics: Sir Michael Stoute's unusual route to the top

If Sir Michael Stoute is singular among the ranks of Europe's great trainers for the uncommon consistency with which he has turned up Group 1 winners across six decades, then his beginnings in the sport are no less unusual. 

Stoute grew up in Barbados, the son of the island's chief of police; a childhood which first afforded him a prime view of Garrison Savannah racecourse and, from the age of 12, riding lessons with the force's mounted officers. 

At 19 he travelled to Britain to stay with Yorkshire-based trainer Pat Rohan, with the ultimate aim of joining the BBC as racing correspondent.

While his professional loss was Julian Wilson's gain, Stoute had already begun to immerse himself in stable life with Rohan and, in less than three years, showed his first boss he had the makings of a trainer.

Sent to Newmarket in 1968 to assist first Doug Smith and later Tom Jones, Stoute's brief time with both men coincided with considerable success, with the 1969 Oaks going to the Earl of Rosebery's Sleeping Partner for Smith, and the 1971 St Leger to the Jones-trained Athens Wood. 

Shergar and Walter Swinburn are greeted by Michael Stoute (right) after winning the 1981 King GeorgeCredit: Gerry Cranham

Before the end of 1971 and at the age of just 25, Stoute took out his own licence and, having rented enough boxes for the 15 horses with whom he started out the 1972 season, he and his wife Pat were able to buy Beech Hurst Stables before the start of the following campaign. 

Stoute's first two flagship horses, Blue Cashmere – who won an Ayr Gold Cup and later the Nunthorpe and the Temple at stakes level – and Stewards' Cup winner Alphadamus were both sprinters, but it was his meeting with Swedish owner Sven Hanson which would change the speed and trajectory of his ascent up the training hierarchy.

Hanson's Fair Salinia gave the yard a first Classic win in the 1978 Oaks, a success which undoubtedly influenced the Aga Khan in his decision to send Stoute yearlings at the end of that year.

From just the second crop Stoute trained for His Highness came the matchless dual Derby and King George hero Shergar, who announced his trainer's arrival at the top table of his profession in double-quick time.

A fine innings draws to an end in Newmarket

It’s the end of another era in Newmarket and particularly on the historic Bury Road, where a couple of years of "we’ll play it off the wicket" has resulted in cricket fan Sir Michael Stoute finally drawing stumps after more than 50 years in the training ranks.

As current giants of the turf at Headquarters go, they don’t get much bigger than Stoute, who is at the same level in many local eyes with that other knight, Sir Henry Cecil. He jousted with Cecil, both on the gallops and on the racecourse, through much of the eighties and nineties in particular, when both men were in their pomp.

Out on the gallops, the Limekilns is always Stoute’s favourite spot and he stands in the same place alongside the Kentford Road, which not many do. Although it is a couple of furlongs from the likes of the Trial Ground, it affords the best general view of everything and is ideal for a man who misses nothing.

I’ve never known anyone else at Freemason Lodge in my time in the town and also (until it was recently sold to Roger Varian) at his first yard along the Bury Road across at Beech Hurst – ‘the farm’ as it was called – although Stoute is very fair in sharing out the good horses, of whom there have been many, across both sites.

Stoute was inducted into the Qipco Hall Of Fame at the town’s National Horseracing Museum a couple of years ago and I’m sure it won’t be long before he takes his place alongside Walter Swinburn and the legendary Shergar among the Legends Of The Turf walk of fame along Newmarket High Street.
David Milnes, Newmarket correspondent

Read more:

Sir Michael Stoute to stop training at the end of the year after 'a great and enjoyable journey' 

Michael Holding: 'I’m glad Michael’s been strong enough to say listen, I’ve had a great time, and I can now walk away'    

Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore combine with exciting two-year-old prospect hours after trainer announces retirement 

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