The last dance - Sir Michael Stoute to send his likely final runner out at Nottingham on Wednesday

Wanderlust has the likely privilege of being written in the history books as the last runner ever sent out by Sir Michael Stoute on Wednesday.

The legendary trainer announced his intention to retire before the end of the year in September, after a glittering career spanning six decades.

54 years after saddling the first of more than 4,000 winners, Stoute is represented by Wanderlust in the 1m6f handicap (3.50) that concludes Nottingham's card.

The 79-year-old has no more entries before the turf season concludes at Doncaster on Saturday and it is fitting Richard Kingscote rides his potential final runner.

Kingscote rode Stoute's 16th British Classic winner when steering Desert Crown to victory in the 2022 Derby, the trainer's sixth success in the Epsom Classic he first won with Shergar. 

He has been Stoute's go-to jockey in recent years, in part due to Ryan Moore's commitments at Ballydoyle, but he has grasped the opportunity with both hands, providing the master trainer with his final success at the highest level on Bay Bridge in the 2022 Champion Stakes and his final Group-race win on Passenger in the Huxley Stakes in May.

Passenger was one of 26 winners for Stoute in Britain this season, his lowest haul since Racing Post records began in 1988 but the 163 runners he has sent out this season has been by far the lowest representation he has had during that period.

Sir Michael Stoute and West Indies cricket legend Michael Holding in 2006Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Stoute's 164th runner Wanderlust was beaten on her first four starts but outran odds of 22-1 on her handicap debut at Yarmouth 22 days ago.

The daughter of Waldgeist has been upped a further two and a half furlongs in trip and will be partnered on the track for the first time by Kingscote, who said: "She ran well the last day and it looks like the extra distance will help, so fingers crossed."

Kingscote has fond memories of this midweek meeting at Nottingham as it was the scene of Desert Crown's blistering five-and-a-half-length debut in 2021.

"I was just thinking that it's the same card as when he won his maiden," said the 38-year-old, who is seeking his 79th winner for Stoute.

The Class 6 contest would be a typically low-key way for the softly spoken Barbados-born Stoute to bow out of a sport where he has achieved remarkable success, including being the leading trainer at Royal Ascot on six occasions for a total of 82 winners – a record bettered only by Aidan O'Brien.

Stoute also enjoyed vast success on the global stage, with 11 Irish Classic victories alongside wins in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Japan Cup, Dubai World Cup, Breeders' Cup and Hong Kong Vase. 

On his association with Freemason Lodge, Kingscote added: "I'm very lucky to be in the position I've been in. I've ridden some lovely horses and it's been a good few years."

Read more: 

Analysis and trainer quotes for competitive Kempton handicap as Accidental Agent bids to end his career on a high   

'It's highly likely she'll be the last' - Sir Michael Stoute could field final runner on Wednesday 

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