Sir Michael Stoute hailed by the racing world

The most famous horse to have passed through his yard is undoubtedly the Aga Khan’s Shergar, who won the 1981 Derby in the hands of 19-year-old Walter Swinburn by a record-breaking 10 lengths that still stands as a benchmark for a race first run in 1780.

He also won the Irish Derby – when Lester Piggott was in the saddle – and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the same season.

Shergar was retired to become a stallion, but the story went on to run much deeper than that when the big bay with the white blaze was kidnapped by masked intruders from Ballymany Stud in County Kildare on a foggy evening in February 1983.

He has never seen again and while many theories abound it is generally accepted the IRA were the culprits, that his abductors were ill-equipped to control a thoroughbred stallion and that he was killed shortly afterwards. His remains have never been found.

Stoute’s victories in the green and red silks of the Aga Khan continued, however, with Shahrastani another to take the Derby and Irish Derby in 1986 and Doyoun the winner of the 2000 Guineas in 1988.

A statement from the stud said: “Aga Khan Studs extend their heartfelt wishes to Sir Michael Stoute for a long and fulfilling retirement.

“Sir Michael Stoute trained horses for His Highness the Aga Khan from 1978 to 2006, a partnership that was quick to produce remarkable successes.

“Among these was the legendary Shergar, whose record-breaking 10-length victory in the 1981 Epsom Derby remains unmatched.

“Under Sir Michael’s care, Shergar also won the Irish Derby and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes against his elders.

“Five years later, he trained another dual Derby winner for the green and red silks, Shahrastani.

“Other notable winners trained by Sir Michael Stoute for His Highness include Shardari, winner of the International Stakes, and Doyoun, who gave a first win to his owner and breeder in the 2000 Guineas.

“Daliapour was a winner of the Coronation Cup, while Kalanisi won both the Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2000.”

But for all the horses Stoute has been associated with, the abiding memory will forever be of Epsom in 1981, and that wonderful moment rounding Tattenham Corner when Swinburn flicked the switch and the afterburners powered on.

All that disappeared that day was the opposition as Shergar cleared away, his rivals withering to dots in the distance.

Fellow trainer John Gosden said in response to the announcement: “A true champion trainer with a phenomenal feel for the horses in his stable.

“At the height of their powers, Henry Cecil and he were formidable adversaries and lit up the British racing season year on year.”

Stoute won the Derby on six occasions, with two of those victories for owner Saeed Suhail with Kris Kin in 2003 and Desert Crown in 2022.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager for the owner, said: “Sir Michael rang me this morning to tell me the news. What you can say? It’s not unexpected, but it’s sad.

“I rode for him as second jockey to Walter Swinburn at one time for Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum and rode quite a few winners.

“When my owners talk about telling Sir Michael to do something, I say ‘listen, Sir Michael Stoute has trained every winner in the world twice, I’m not going to tell him anything’ – and he quite rightly probably wouldn’t take any notice anyway!

“I’m kind of pleased that he’s given up still at the top. It’s not for me to say, but I hope he goes backwards and forwards to Barbados and follows the cricket because that’s his real passion and it’s great to do that before you get too old or unhealthy.

“He obviously trained two Derby winners for Saeed Suhail and a 2000 Guineas winner (King’s Best in 2000) and everything else.

“Who is anyone to tell Sir Michael what to do? There might be someone in the world as good, but there is no one better.”