Sending out an SMS...

Today we have a post from pro-gambler and betting blogger John Mac, who thinks the time may finally be arriving again for one of the great Newmarket yards:

'In the land of the mobile telephone the letters SMS stand for Short Message Service. In the world of Horse Racing they simply mean SIR MICHAEL STOUTE.

I think it is fair to say that so far this season his stable hasn't really fired. Up until yesterday his tally was 44 winners from 213 runners. Not bad by any means.

But, for the champion trainer of 1981, 1986, 1989, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2009, the quality of the winners he's produced has not been up to his usual (very) high standards.

For a stable that can name horses such as Shergar, Royal Heroine, Shareef Dancer, Shahrastani, Shadeed, Green Desert, Kribensis, Ezzoud, Gay Gallanta, Opera House, Singspiel, Pilsudski, Petrushka, Golan, Russian Rhythm, Kris Kin, North Light, Notnowcato, Conduit, and Workforce amongst its previous equine stars it is now being murmured that the great yard is in decline - the great names have been sadly lacking in the last couple of seasons.

Power shifts in racing are not uncommon.

The force now seems to be firmly with the Coolmore operation who have taken a stranglehold of the Classic races this season and, Frankel aside, battled out the remaining group races with Godolphin  and the ever strengthening Gosden yard.

So where is Sir Michael at now ?

Well, this weekend past he may have taken a significant step forward. Some of his better handicapped horses have staked their claim to become late summer moneyspinners for the yard.

SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD, GOSPEL CHOIR, OPINION and  FLEUR DE CACTUS all posted improved performances to win and will have to be monitored closely in the coming weeks as all look capable of continuing the upward curve.

FIORENTE finally looked to be back on track at the July meeting and he looks an exciting older horse to stay on the right side of and ZUMBI looked a winner in waiting in her race on Saturday at Newmarket.

There are bound to be others so the best advice I can offer is to give careful consideration to any horses coming from the yard in the near future.

As was the case with the Johnston yard a few weeks ago, it could be time to jump onboard the Stoute bandwagon.

One of Newmarket's juggernaut stables of yesteryear looks primed and ready to start firing in the winners!'