Stoute: Shergar was a machine but Henry did a better job with Frankel

Sir Michael Stoute believes Sir Henry Cecil’s masterful training of Frankel eclipsed his handling of Shergar and still laments his decision to run his first Derby winner in the St Leger later that year.

Shergar finished fourth in the Classic at Doncaster on what proved his final start in 1981 having also won the Irish Derby and King George that season.

The Aga Khan homebred was stolen in 1983 when a group of armed men in balaclavas entered Ballymany Stud near the Curragh. He was never sighted again.

Stoute, who saddles favourite Desert Crown in next month's Cazoo Derby, said: "Shergar was a machine, but Henry did a better job with Frankel than I did with Shergar because I should never have run him in the St Leger."

In contrast to Shergar, Frankel raced for three seasons, finishing his career unbeaten on 14 wins in 2012 before being retired to stud.

Sir Henry Cecil with his great colt Frankel whom he trained for three unbeaten seasonsCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Stoute recalled a memorable tale about the ultra-talented but sometimes playful Shergar getting loose in Newmarket less than two weeks before the King George at Ascot.

He said: "Shergar was bombproof and had a wonderful temperament. In addition to being a really well-balanced, medium-sized athlete, he had the temperament to go with it.

"He would always show us in the mornings what he did in the afternoons, but he would spin around at home now and again. There is the famous story that he spun and got rid of his rider at the bottom of the Limekilns canter one day.

"They said Shergar had got rid of his jockey and had gone to the Boy's Grave [a Newmarket landmark] so I just got in a car to find him.

"A fellow called Stockton was picking Henry's hedge outside their yard and recognised Shergar loose. We were lucky there was no long-term damage. He won the King George only 12 days later as I remember."

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