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Sir Michael Stoute failed to go out with a bang when his expected final runner Wanderlust finished last Goodbye For 2024 From Nottingham Racecourse Handicap on Wednesday.
The 78-year-old, who announced his retirement from the training ranks in September, has no further entries before the British flat season concludes at Doncaster on Saturday.
Wanderlust was sent off the 9/4 market leader to give Stoute a fairytale farewell, but the writing was on the wall a long way from home, with stable jockey Richard Kingscote, who rode Stoute's final Derby winner Desert Crown two years ago, urging his mount along. The daughter of Waldgeist weakened tamely and ultimately failed to beat a rival home.
Stoute's first career success came when the one and only Lester Piggott steered Sandal to victory at Newmarket in 1972. The Freemason Lodge handler went on to saddle six Epsom Derby winners and will most famously be associated with Shegar, who landed the Derby in sensational style in 1981.
Stoute won ten champion trainer titles, was responsible for training over 4,000 winners and earned the title of leading trainer at Royal Ascot on six occasions. Stoute, who retires from training with 16 Classic wins to his name, also enjoyed global success in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Japan Cup, Dubai World Cup, Hong Kong Vase and the Breeders' Cup.
His final top-level victory as a trainer came when Richard Kingscote rode Bay Bridge to triumph in the 2022 Champion Stakes.
