LESS THAN three weeks to the Derby and already it is clear that Sir Michael Stoute holds a strong hand for our premier Classic yet again. His Tartan Bearer, winner of the Dante Stakes, is second favourite for the Epsom event, with Tajaweed also heavily fancied. Stoute last won the Derby with North Light in 2004, and he would love to grab another Blue Riband.
Stoute is second only to Henry Cecil in modern-day British championships. Nine times the champion trainer – one less than Cecil – he has won four Epsom Derbys and 13 British Classics in all, and has won many more Group 1s than Cecil in other racing
countries, including three Breeders Cup prizes. Only the St Legers in Britain and Ireland have eluded him of the Classics in these islands, but he did throw in a Champion Hurdle with Kribensis in 1990.
Forever associated with the great but ill-fated Shergar, Stoute has won every honour in racing since he gained his licence in 1972, and was knighted by the Queen, for whom he has often trained horses, in 1998. But remarkably, that honour was given not only for sport but for services to tourism in Barbados, where Stoute was born 62 years ago.
Stoute left the island at the age of 19 to learn the ropes in Newmarket before taking over the historic Freemason Lodge stables.
They are said to be the happiest stables in Newmarket, thanks to the Barbadian heritage of Stoute who can be serious in public but invariably sunny and smiling in private. His homeland is something of which he is very proud and recently I had the chance to see just exactly what produced this phenomenon when I visited the island and enjoyed a day at the races at the course where Stoute first learned the ropes.
Garrison Savannah may be more familiar to racing fans as the name of the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner – and Grand National second – of 1991. But to generations of Barbadians (or Bajans, as the term is interchangeable) Garrison Savannah is their island's racecourse, and quite unique it is, too. Any serious racing fan will undoubtedly fall for the exquisite olde-worlde charm of Garrison Savannah.
Imagine the old Hamilton Park with sunshine and you get the idea. It's like no racecourse I've ever visited, full of colourful characters and the raucous joy of people enjoying themselves at an extended family day out.
It shouldn't need to be said, but people of white, black and mixed race mingled happily together as they bet on the Tote, the only betting allowed on track – and quite right, too.
The racing may not have been of the highest class, but there were plenty of exciting finishes and the owners, trainers, jockeys, and punters all took the events seriously. The horses seemed fit and well cared for, it should be said. Part of the historic Garrison area near Bridgetown, the Savannah was where the British forces used to exercise and play their games of rugby and polo. The six furlong oval track hosts the meetings organised by the Barbados Turf Club.
It was here that the young Stoute, son of the island's police commissioner and with family on Barbados going back three centuries, first caught the racing bug, including a stint as a racing commentator. I could see why someone would fall in love with racing here.
But as I sipped my Mount Gay rum punch, I learned that there is just a hint of trouble in Paradise. Some racing people on the island want to leave Garrison Savannah and build a new track elsewhere, while others steadfastly refuse to countenance leaving. I could see both points of view. Apart from a couple of well-appointed viewing areas, the stands are a bit ramshackle and the track is just too tight for class racing. But it would be a shame to lose the old course – so why not keep it AND build a new one?
If they do build a new course there is only one person it should be named after, especially if, as I suspect may happen, Sir Michael Stoute wins his fifth Epsom Derby with Tartan Bearer – one for Bajans and Scots alike to support come the big race.
• I flew with British Airways who have a daily flight from Edinburgh to Barbados (via Gatwick) costing from £670 return including taxes – check out www.ba.com for details.
Creachadoir victory keeps Godolphin stable in buoyant moodTHE boys in blue from Godolphin have struck form with a vengeance in the last week, and proved it with victory by Creachadoir in yesterday's Group 1 Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
Frankie Dettori always had the 3-1 favourite in the van and he kicked on two furlongs out, repelling all boarders to beat Phoenix Tower and Tariq by three-quarters of a length and a neck.
Unlucky horse of the race was Cesare, the 7-2 second favourite who was given a misjudged ride by Jamie Spencer. He held up James Fanshawe's charge in last place and was forced to bring him right round the field to finish fourth, beaten by a length.
Dettori said: "The race went to plan and he quickened well. He was idling a little bit in front. I had the box seat and managed to get some room at the two. I pressed go and he responded immediately."
There are four days of racing in Scotland this week, with Musselburgh having its two-day meeting on Monday and Tuesday followed by Ayr and Kelso, both racing on Wednesday, the former on the flat.
The full article contains 950 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
