Stoute Pays Tribute to Poet's Word Upon Retirement

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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Poet's Word after taking the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot

Poet's Word, the joint-second-highest rated runner this year according to the most recent Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, has been retired and enrolled onto the stallion roster at Nunnery Stud in Norfolk.

The 5-year-old, trained by Sir Michael Stoute for Saeed Suhail, has been awarded an interim mark of 129 after his scintillating victories in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) this summer. That makes him the equal of Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) victor Gun Runner  and only one pound below Australian wondermare Winx.

Poet's Word has not run since finishing a creditable second to Roaring Lion in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) in August, having suffered an injury last month that ended his season and, ultimately, his racing career.

Stoute paid tribute to his stable star, saying: "Poet's Word was a very athletic colt with a grand temperament. He was also a great competitor who just continued to progress."

James Doyle, who partnered with the horse to two top-level triumphs, added: "He had a great temperament—he was solid mentally, nothing fazed him.

"The one thing that blew me away was his cruising speed, making him an incredibly easy ride. He would quite happily go forward, or you could take him back and he would relax. He could also accelerate off that high cruising speed, emphasized when winning his two group 1 races at Ascot. I've ridden some exceptional horses, and he'd easily be one of the best over 10 furlongs. A mile and a quarter was definitely his optimum trip.

"Finally, he was also a great mover. He flowed across the ground, and although he won on slower going, a quicker surface brought out the best in him."

Bred by Woodcote Stud, Poet's Word was a 300,000gns (US$506,394) yearling purchase by Charlie Gordon-Watson.

He finished a promising fourth on his sole start in a Newmarket maiden at 2 and zoomed through the handicap ranks at 3.

Last year at 4, he landed the Betfred Glorious Stakes (G3) before finishing second in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1)—beaten just half a length by Decorated Knight—and filling the same position behind Cracksman in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot.

This year, Poet's Word took second in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) and ran out a wide-margin winner of the Matchbook Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) before gaining his richly deserved group 1 laurels by turning the tables on Cracksman in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and edging out Crystal Ocean in the King George—the pair finishing nine lengths clear of the rest of the field.

He retires with a record of seven wins and seven other podium finishes from 17 starts, and prize money of just shy of £3 million ($3,919,066).

Poet's Word is by the late Poet's Voice, a top-class son of Dubawi who developed into a rich source of 2-year-old winners, out of the listed-placed Nashwan mare Whirly Bird. That makes him a half brother to group 3 winner Malabar and to Whirly Dancer, the dam of last year's talented 2-year-old Beckford.

Further back it is the family of top sire Inchinor and celebrities Harbour Law, Inchmurrin, and Miss Keller.

Nunnery Stud stallions stand under the Shadwell banner, and the operation's director, Richard Lancaster, said: "Poet's Word was a tremendous racehorse and is a great credit to Sir Michael, who gave him the time to develop into one of Europe's elite middle-distance performers.

"He put up a huge performance when beating Cracksman in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and then backed that up when he displayed all his tenacity and fighting spirit to beat Crystal Ocean in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

"Not only are there several precocious performers found in Poet's Word's pedigree, but he is also a beautiful-looking horse, a point emphasized by his 300,000gns yearling price. He uses himself particularly well, and if he can pass that trait on to his offspring, it will stand him in good stead."

Poet's Word will be available to view at Beech House Stud in Newmarket during the Tattersalls December Sales, along with fellow Nunnery Stud newcomer Tasleet.

Their fees will be announced in the coming weeks.