MEMORIES OF SIR MICHAEL'S EARLY DAYS RUN SO DEEP

Dave Youngman looks back at Michael Stoute's road to success

- Dave Youngman

WELL, the end of a brilliant training career of Sir Michael Stoute is in sight as he has announced his intended retirement at the end of this season. But there is plenty of time yet for the Freemason Lodge maestro to send out a few more winners yet as there are still some nice types in full training.

I remember when Sir Michael first came here to Newmarket and spent time with both Doug Smith and then Tom Jones, that was before he set up training on his own out of rented stables at Cadland Stables at the foot of Warren Hill.

Beech Hurst stables was then purchased and sometime later he purchased Freemason Lodge where he got together some wonderful staff. Jimmy Scott was a fantastic, long-serving travelling head lad, Cliff Lines and his son both worked for Sir Michael and Cliff rode Shergar in his work.