Sir Michael Stoute Horse Trainer Profile Series

Sir Michael Stoute is another classic trainer who produces winners year after year, he started training horses way back in 1972. His first winner was Sandal, who was actually owned by his father. From then on he's won almost every race you could think of, and I mean more than once too. One of which was the Epsom Derby five times and not to mention becoming Champion Trainer ten times training some great horses over the years. 

Kribensis was one of the exceptional horses he trained and apart from giving owner Sheikh Mohammed his first Cheltenham Festival winner in the Triumph Hurdle, Kribensis also became the only horse to do the Triple Crown of Hurdling which consists of Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Christmas Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle before retiring in 1993. 

Personally, Shergar (pictured) was Stoutes’ most publicized horse after what was an unimaginable and sad end to his brief but brilliant career, he had a long list of classics to his name including the Irish Derby and the Epsom Derby and earning a Time Form rating of 140 before being retired to stud by owner Aga Khan. 

Shergar was shockingly stolen from his stable and held for ransom by the IRA but got injured and was shot days later in what was a short but glittering career. 

Let's look at some statistics then and this time we go back to racecourses, so no handicap, claiming or selling races in these statistics. The past three years at Ascot, Doncaster and Goodwood would have given you a nice profit even though a slight dip for whatever reason in 2017. Out of 47 bets, you would have had 15 wins with a 31.9 per cent win strike rate and 230.6 win per cent return at starting price with an impressive 32 placed and a 191.9 per cent each way return at starting price. 

So let's now break down the statistics. 

Ascot has the lowest return with 25 bets and 4 wins it still would have given you a 142.0 per cent win return at starting price and even better 146.0 per cent each way return at starting price, so overall a little unlucky with many placed. 

Expert Eye a star for the future with a Group 3 at Ascot in June 2018 before going on to earn a rating of a 119 and finishing off the 2018 season with another impressive win at Churchill Downs in the Breeders Cup Mile with Frankie Dettori on board. 

Doncaster is a course definitely worth following even though he only sends a couple there most seasons, check these stats to see why, 7 bets with 3 wins with 42.9 per cent win strike rate and a 464.3 win per cent return at starting price and not only that, a 100 per cent place strike rate is a must follow, one of the horses that ran here is worth a mention. 

Crystal Ocean ran in the St Leger at Donny and finished a respectable second to Capri before going onto finish the season with another second in the Champion Stakes to the brilliant Cracksman and earning an official rating of 129. 

Goodwood has an even better strike rate with 15 bets and 8 wins would have given you a 53.3 per cent strike rate and a huge 269.2 per cent win return at starting price and a decent enough place return at 195.8 percent at starting price with Ulysses winning here in 2016 and taking the Group 3 Beringice Gordon Stakes before adding more Group races to his name and an official rating of 127. 

Let's hope these statistics keep us in profit in 2019 and I will do my best to add some updates along the way, good luck all and keep an eye out for the next trainer profile.

Shergar Wins the Epsom Derby in 1981 by a Record Distance

Related post: Aga Khan reveals Shergar regret 30 years on from Derby win