How many times has Sir Michael Stoute won the Derby?
At the time of writing, veteran trainer Sir Michael Stoute, 75, has won the Derby five times, twice before his knighthood – interestingly, awarded for services not to horse racing, but to tourism in his native Barbados, in 1998 – and three times thereafter. His most famous Derby winner was undoubtedly Shergar, who won, eased down, by 10 lengths in 1981. Shergar was owned by Prince Shāh Karim al-Husayni, a.k.a. Aga Khan IV, and ridden by the late Walter Swinburn, as was Stoute’s next Derby winner, Shahrastani, in 1986. Rather unfairly, the 1986 Derby is remembered more for the controversial defeat of the hot favourite, Dancing Brave, than the victory of Shahrastani.
In any event, Stoute had to wait a while for his next Derby winner but, in the style of ‘London buses’, two came along together, in the form of Kris Kin in 2003 and North Light in 2004. Both winners were ridden by Kieren Fallon. Last, but by no means least, in 2010, Stoute enjoyed another wide-margin, ‘Royal’ Derby winner, courtesy of Workforce, owned by the late Khalid Abdullah. Ridden by Ryan Moore, Workforce was soon clear and in command, winning by 7 lengths in a time of 2 minutes 31.33 seconds, which still stands as a course record.
Unsurprisingly, the leading owner in the history of the Cheltenham was the owner of the most successful horse in the history of the ‘Blue Riband’ event, Golden Miller. Golden Miller achieved legendary status by winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup five years running between 1932 and 1936, but his owner, the Honourable Dorothy Paget, became almost as famous, or infamous, for her eccentric, often tyrannical behaviour. The richest unmarried woman in the country, at one point, Miss Paget would win the Cheltenham Gold Cup again with Roman Hackle in 1940 and Mont Tremblant in 1952, for a total of seven victories; her success did not prevent her being utterly difficult and falling out with her trainers on a regular basis.
Godolphin originally made an application for Charlie Appleby to replace his predecessor, Mahmood Al Zarooni, at Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket in June, 2013. However, in the wake of in what has been described as ‘one of the biggest doping scandals in British racing history’, his appointment was delayed by a month or so, pending the completion of an investigation by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
Desert Orchid was an immensely popular grey – in fact, towards the end of his career, almost white – horse, who won 34 of his 70 starts over hurdles and fences and remains the sixth highest-rated steeplechaser in the history of Timeform. He was trained, throughout his career, by David Elsworth, who first took out a training licence in his own right in 1978. At the peak of his powers, Elsworth had 143 horses in his yard at Whitsbury Manor Stables, near Fordingbridge, Hampshire.