THOSE of a nervous disposition might want to look away now, for the story of Robert Winston is anything but soothing. His life recently has been a catalogue of unwelcome drama, and he has not yet stemmed the bleeding. Winston, however, could be champion jockey this year and he enters Royal Ascot week with Sir Michael Stoute, no less, as his principal source of winners and wise counsel.
A fortnight ago, the champion trainer gave Winston his first Derby mount, Papal Bull. He has provided 15 winners for him this year and further rides are expected this week. “I respect him for his loyalty and I go where he wants me,” Winston said. “I couldn’t afford to mess this partnership up.”
Indeed, to say Winston is grateful for the visible support of Stoute is an understatement. When we talked, he referred to “Sir Michael” in almost every sentence, then phoned me later to reiterate his advice. “Sir Michael always tells me not to dwell on the past, just to focus positively on the future.”
Easier said than done when the past impinges so painfully on the present. Winston, 26, has yet to regain full facial movement after the horrifying incident at Ayr last August that might have taken his career, if not his life. He also has yet to be released from bail in the City of London Police investigation, or indeed from the possible attentions of racing’s own security department.
Several times, Winston has flirted with self-destruction but Stoute appears to relish a challenge in his jockey, especially when he recognises a God-given ability to make horses run.
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He recruited Kieren Fallon when he lost his job with Henry Cecil in controversial circumstances, then supported him through alcohol problems. Now, he is promoting another rider who has admitted phases of drunken instability. With Stoute, this is no care in the community initiative but an unswerving belief that he is employing the best.
“I’ve been through a lot in the last couple of years and there were times when I wasn’t reliable,” Winston said with painful honesty. “I’m sure Sir Michael knew that but he’d seen a talent in me and he’s given me a chance.
“He’s very helpful to me. I’ve always had great advice from him and I’ve always listened, trying to learn from him. He told me in the winter it was down to me to put the work in and prove myself. I did that, riding out at his yard from early February, and the season so far has gone better than I dared hope.”
No surprise that his hopes were low. Last summer, he had ridden 98 winners and was three ahead in the title race when his mount slipped on a bend at Ayr one Saturday evening. A following horse kicked him in the face and the remainder of the meeting was abandoned on safety grounds.
Winston still talks of legal action against Ayr. “It shouldn’t have happened. The grass was too long and very slippy, like an ice rink. Since my fall, they’ve done a great job on the course but it should have been done before.
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“I knew I was lucky to be alive and I tried to keep thinking positive and not to worry what I was missing. But I got down and depressed without realising it and I started going out partying to try and forget. I got a bit carried away and I had to sort myself out before I came back riding.”
He not only did that but overcame the psychological barriers that such head and face injuries must present. “It hasn’t affected my riding one bit,” he insists. “But I’ll feel better when my teeth are sorted and I can smile properly again. Most of the dental work is done but I have to see an implantologist at the end of July to have four or five screws inserted.”
Given such circumstances, the fact that Winston has ridden more winners this year than anyone bar Jamie Spencer is remarkable. “It has even caught me by surprise. I thought I’d lost a lot of my contacts and it would be a struggle to get started again. But I got myself back on the all-weather and things went really well.”
Stoute’s ultimate show of faith was putting Winston on Papal Bull, owned by the Coolmore conglomerate. “Sir Michael asked me to stay with him the previous night and Lester Piggott came over to go through the tapes of the horse with me. I learnt a hell of a lot from the whole experience and I went into the race without feeling nervous. I’m really looking forward to Ascot now.”
You sense he takes life a week at a time, as well he might. Though still based in York, he may consider moving south next year to cut down on travel and stress. But that is for another day, when the head might finally be clear of dangers and demons.
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Meanwhile, the title is his driving ambition and he says: “It’s all about getting on a roll. I’m giving it my best shot and it would be a dream come true . . . especially after what happened last year.” Never look back, Stoute tells him. But when you have been through as much as Winston, sometimes you can’t help yourself.