'He would want to drift quietly off into the sunset' - racegoers and professionals pay tribute to Sir Michael Stoute

The final runner of Sir Michael Stoute's illustrious career was marked by tributes from spectators and officials at Nottingham, a track where the Newmarket trainer has unleashed some of his biggest stars in the last decade. 

Some racegoers had travelled from as far away as London specifically for the occasion, while there were a few more officials around at the track's final meeting of the year than normal which, due to waterlogging in previous seasons, was staged for the first time since Stoute's final Derby winner, Desert Crown, broke his maiden on the same card in 2021.

Course chairman Jeremy Bradbeer said: "What is nice is Richard Kingscote is riding Sir Michael's horse and he rode Desert Crown when he started his career with a win here before he went on to win the Derby. That is the strange link that Sir Michael's last Classic winner started his career here and the trainer is now finishing his here."

He added: "Sir Michael is not great at attending racecourses these days. We did ask him today but sadly he said no. He was long odds against coming but we made the offer. Sir Michael is that kind of a guy, he would want to drift quietly off into the sunset. It couldn't be any quieter than a Class 6 race at the end of the day at our last meeting of the season."

Nottingham has races named after greats like Oh So Sharp, Slip Anchor and Golden Horn but not, as yet, a Stoute big name. 

Bradbeer said: "We haven't a race named after Desert Crown yet, but it's on the agenda and the plan is to add him to our champions picture wall at the back of the grandstand."

Clerk of the course Paul Barker said: "I've only been here since April but I know Sir Michael has been a great supporter of Nottingham over the years and especially bringing his maiden two-year-olds and three-year-olds. 

"It's a great track for that kind of horse and in more recent times he's followed it up with older horses. His last winner was just down the road at Southwell. 

"All of us at Nottingham wish Sir Michael a very happy retirement."

Desert Crown (pictured with his trainer) began his career at the same meeting in which Stoute signed offCredit: Edward Whitaker

As well as Desert Crown, Stoute has used Nottingham to win maidens with the subsequently high-class Poet's Word in 2016 and Crystal Ocean the following year.

Racegoers came from both near and far to mark the occasion, including John Holmes from Leeds. 

He said: "When I saw that Wanderlust was in the 48-hour declarations, I rang my friend Chris Jarvis in London and said we should both go. There aren't many legends left and when I started going racing in 1978 I used to back Sir Michael Stoute and Sir Henry Cecil horses. 

"I like trainer-and-jockey combinations so I followed Stoute and Swinburn and then he has a good relationship with Kingscote. I've never met him but I always thought he was a proper gentleman with all his charity work."

Former bookie Gary Green was more local, but he was eager to see the final act, and said: "This is the first time I've been to Nottingham this year and I've come to see Sir Michael's final runner. I'm a long-time follower of the yard. 

"I used to work on track for Ladbrokes and Mike Dillon told me to back Shergar for the Derby back in the day and I had 33-1 about him. The winnings went a long way to putting a deposit down on my first house. 

"I won't be backing Wanderlust as she is too short, but I will be cheering her on."

Three other trainers who departed quietly

Luca Cumani

Luca Cumani ended his career on a fairly low-key note when his final runner, Swansdown, finished second in a nursery on the all-weather at Wolverhampton in November 2018. "It's a shame we didn't manage to go out on a winner," said the Classic-winning trainer, who did manage to land an Italian Group 1 with God Given in his final month. 

Barry Hills

Barry Hills sent out more than 3,000 winners during his 42-year career, including victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and numerous Classics. In keeping with that theme, he also recorded a double on his final day as a trainer, with his last winner coming at an evening meeting at Bath in August 2011. One Lucky Lady was partnered by William Carson, the grandson of Willie Carson, who rode countless winners for the yard, including Dibidale. Hills later returned on a temporary licence after the death of his son John, eventually calling time with a couple of losers in November 2015.

Richard Hannon snr

Richard Hannon snr crowned a magnificent career by winning his fifth trainers' championship a month before announcing his retirement in November 2013. He had his final runners on the all-weather at Lingfield on New Year's Eve. Sebs Sensei was beaten half a length when second in a nursery, faring better than stablemate Amontillado in sixth, before his final runner Lions Arch finished third in a handicap under Sean Levey, beaten half a length.

Read these next:

Sir Michael Stoute out of luck with final runner as Wanderlust comes last at Nottingham 

'It wasn't to be today' - Sir Michael Stoute's farewell runner trails in last amidst plenty of goodwill for training giant 

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