As Sir Michael Stoute heads off into the sunset, the retiring legend rides a wave of good wishes from those within the sport. However, his departure leaves a fair bit of organising for those connected with his Freemason Lodge yard.
No longer able to call upon the services of a man with over 4,000 wins to his name, including 16 British Classics and a boatload of Group 1s, the owners of the talent within the Stoute yard must seek pastures new for their charges.
That process is now well underway, with several of Stoute’s highest-profile runners already well on the way to settling into their new surroundings. Amongst those set to run under the name of a new trainer in 2025, the following five top the bill.
Nightwalker
- Owner – Juddmonte
- Sire – Frankel
- New Trainer – John & Thady Gosden
This son of the greatest of all time makes the short trip from one leading Newmarket operation to another. Out of the dam Sleep Walk, Nightwalker is a half-brother to the dual Grade 1 winner Whitebeam. In his brief career, he has already hinted that he may be up to making his presence felt at a high level.
Showing signs of inexperience on debut at Leicester, he ran a fine race to finish third behind Matauri Bay, who went on to finish a close second in the Group 3 Solario Stakes. Nightwalker made no mistake on his second outing when staying on well to break his duck at Yarmouth. Up in class next time out, he again ran a cracker to finish third in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes.
But for becoming a little lost in the Newmarket dip that day, he may well have finished closer. Considering how much Stoute runners regularly improve from two to three, he rates a hugely exciting addition to the Gosden team.
Jonquil
- Owner – Juddmonte
- Sire – Lope De Vega
- New Trainer – Andrew Balding
By one of the leading European sires, Lope De Vega, and out of a Dubawi mare, Jonquil is another Juddmonte runner who makes plenty of appeal on paper. Unlike Nightwalker, this good-looking chestnut was up to the task on debut at Sandown. Looking an unlikely winner when badly hampered at a crucial stage, he put in a remarkable burst once in the clear to storm home and score by a short head.
Heading the market for his next start in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster, it’s fair to say he failed to deliver on that debut promise. Struggling from the off, he only went downhill to finish sixth of seven runners. However, it is unwise to write off a youngster on the back of one poor display, and he joins a Classic winning yard which enjoyed an excellent 2024 campaign.
Pinhole
- Owner – Juddmonte
- Sire – Frankel
- New Trainer – Ralph Beckett
By Frankel and out of Nimble Thimble, this well-named sort joins a yard which hit the headlines for all the right reasons this year. Raced only once during his juvenile campaign, Pinhole looked clueless in the early stages at Newmarket but showed definite signs of ability to stay on well into fifth. Moving to a yard which does well with three-year-olds and older horses, he could be one to watch next season.
Never So Brave
- Owner – Saeed Suhail
- Sire – No Nay Never
- New Trainer – Andrew Balding
This three-year-old joins Jonquil at the Kingsclere base of Andrew Balding. Beginning 2024 with a bang, he picked up successive wins at Thirsk and Chester before finishing a creditable sixth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. His form tailed off after that, but a change of scenery and gelding operation may see him rediscover his spark.
White Crown Star
- Owner – Saeed Suhail
- Sire – Sea The Stars
- New Trainer – Andrew Balding
This son of the great Sea The Stars rounds out a trio of Stoute to Balding transfers. All at sea on debut at Newmarket, he went into many notebooks when finishing an eye-catching third behind Nightwalker at Yarmouth on his second start. Making his debut for Balding on 7th November, he led the field at the furlong pole of a 1m all-weather event at Newcastle, only to fade close home. A step down in trip looks the order of the day on that effort, and he may not be long in entering the Winners’ Enclosure.