Sir Michael Knows it Too Well...

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By ARSENE ABITBOL - 14 May 2009 - 19.40 pm
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What is it that's so special about Sir Michael Stoute? A Champion trainer on nine occasions, he records fourteen wins in English Classics, came back from Ireland with eight Classic winners, saddled four Breeder's Cup victors on the American Turf. He even enjoyed Classic success in Italy. We could go on and on... he is too good!

What amazes me, is how talented - or gifted - he is when it comes to assessing horses, whether they are juveniles or three-years-olds. Now, how often do we see a thoroughbred stepping up from Maiden company to Group I battalions? Not very often ...

In my humble opinion, I also believe that such a huge step in the hierarchy can be traumatizing for horses, but certain trainers are so knowledgeable, they are just amazing, and Sir M.Stoute is one of them. Over the past twelve years, and amongst his smartest prospects at the time, the Newmarket-based trainer has not dared throwing too many into the deep; only five of them precisely. But when he has..well.. his contenders are very familiar names nowadays.


Let's start with Dilshaan who notched a second place for his debut in a Class 4 Maiden at the age of two. On his second run, he has the best turn of foot in one of the most coveted awards of the season, the RacingPost Trophy (Gr I)! It is hard to imagine but Dilshaan's rating improved by 34 lb, from a figure of 85 to a mark of 119 lb exactly.

Let's move on to Red Bloom. The daughter of Selkirk was third on her debut at two. On her second outing, she scored in a Class 4 Maiden at Newmarket and went on to lift the Meon Valley Stud (Gr I) with more than a length in hand. Rated 78lb, the numbers increased to 94 and then to 114lb in a matter of three outings.

Regal Rose, made her debut in a maiden at Ascot; she tasted victory again on her second outing in the Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr I)...She never raced again though but still, she is another example of Stoute's maestria.

The case of Exclusive is interesting too. This daughter of Polar Falcon could not have done any better in a Class 3 Maiden at Kempton. A few weeks later, she was tried in the Fillies' Mile (Gr I), where she displayed a very solid performance, taking the third place in this contest. Once again, the master trainer knew what he had on his hands. Later on, she disposed of Zalaika in the Coronation Stakes (Gr I).

These days, Entrepreneur is a renowned stallion. In 1996, the son of Sadler's Wells began his career in a Newmarket Maiden, where he finished in fourth position. After that, he came home best in a maiden at Kempton, and this victory sealed the end of his juvenile campaign. When he saw a racecourse again he bagged a Class 3 event at Chester. Here we are now, stepped up with the big guns in a Group I, he defeats Revoque in the 2,000 Guineas...

And finally, let's mention the 'Coup', the Champion Trainer made with a son of Spectrum. His name is Golan. In 2000, he landed a Class 4 Maiden at Chepstow, and correct me if I am wrong, but Chepstow is not the most notorious track to start a Classic prospect. For his seasonal debut in 2001, he goes straight to the Guineas, one of the toughest competitions for entire colts and fillies. At Newmarket, he misses the break, trails behind, and still manages to score in impressive fashion... How is that ?? The answer is ..Speechless! Apart from his mentor perhaps..who knew about the enormous potential of his athlete. As a matter of fact, the colt improved his mark by a stunning 28 lb! A year later, he will also prove too good at Ascot, in the KingGeorge VI and QE Stakes.

Harbinger is an intended runner in the Investec-sponsored Derby but he hasn't been out yet and to send an inexperienced colt straight to the Derby is probably the biggest ask for a horse. However, the fact alone that he is engaged is very telling, hence it's a fair assumption to rank him very highly. We never know with horses, but his profile is familiar... We'll have more clues in the Gr II King EdwardVII at Ascot on 19 June.

(All ratings are RPR ratings)

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Sources : www.wikipedia.org and www.racingPost.com (a very special thanks to the best website ever. I could not do my research without it!!)