Turf Topics: Holding court in the world of racing is nothing new for Test ace Michael

He has witnessed each thoroughbred through his binoculars, made a mental note about each horse – and then returned home to study the form book.

His conclusions?

A rejuvenated Kingsgate Native should win today's King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot – ahead of Australian speedster Nicconi – and he likes Ask's credentials in Thursday's Gold Cup, although the word is that Henry Cecil's Yorkshire Cup winner Manifest will take all the beating.

Holding's enthusiasm, and insight, is both palpable and engaging.

He may have been one of the world's greatest fastest bowlers, part of the all-conquering West Indies attack that tormented English batsmen for so long.

He may be one of cricket's most respected commentators – the 'voice of reason' on Sky Sports in contrast to David Lloyd's eccentricities.

He may also be genuinely, and sincerely, fearful about cricket's future, and how the sport's soul is being destroyed by Twenty20's growing dominance.

But it is at daybreak, on Newmarket's gallops, watching Derby-winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute's string, where Holding can be found when cricketing commitments allow.

It makes him uniquely qualified to assess Stoute, who hails from Barbados, and his stable jockey Ryan Moore after their stable star, Workforce, won the Epsom Derby in such an emphatic manner, rekindling memories of Shergar in 1981 and Peter Bromley's radio commentary 'You need a telescope to see the rest'.

"I'm proud to call Sir Michael a true friend. I think he is a genius – a word that is often used mistakenly," says Holding. "He has a photographic memory that enables him to remember everything that he needs to, including many things that he doesn't need to remember.

"That helps a great deal. It would be hard enough for a trainer with 20 horses but he has up to 200. He's very patient with his horses in an era when people are often too impatient. That helps too.

"I think Ryan has a strong head on young shoulders and he will be a great jockey one day. One day. I don't like this talk about him being the next Lester Piggott.

"Sorry, there will only, ever, be one Lester Piggott – but he could be the greatest English jockey since Piggott."

The 5.45am starts contrast with Holding's laid back formative years on the cricket-mad island of Jamaica. He describes his infuriation when his mother tried, unsuccessfully, to wake him to do his school work because "mornings were the best time to study".

"I must have been six or seven when my love affair with horses began," he told the Yorkshire Post. "I was woken from my slumber – I can't have been happy – by my elder brother Ralph to help cut some grass for our neighbour, Nurse Skeffrey. You always wanted to be with your older brother.

"She owned a few horses and once the grass was boxed, we made the 40-minute drive to Caymanas Park racetrack to deliver it – not that I was awake.

"I drifted back to sleep. When I awoke, I rubbed my eyes with disbelief. The sight of these big, powerful, athletic animals fascinated me. I had caught the bug.

"Yet, when it was getting up early to study, I hated it. I used to give my mum a terrible time, but she made me study."

Though his own foray into racehorse ownership was unspectacular, he followed the sport – and names like Piggott.

He recalls, with the enthusiasm that is the trademark of all West Indians, how a friend told him about this "wonder horse" called Red Rum who would win the Grand National.

Holding was, of course, on board. "And then my friend said 'what does Red Rum read backwards?' I hadn't thought about it. 'Murder. Murder'. We murdered the bookies."

Yet it was only in 1995, through his Sky commentary duties, that Holding moved to Newmarket – and became a keen observer of the Stoute stable.

It helps, says Holding, that the trainer loves cricket. "I want to talk racing and Stoutey wants to talk cricket, but it gives him a chance to relax which is very important."

Holding is a passive observer of the early morning work routine – though he will help leg up a jockey when asked or help out if any physical labouring work is required in the yard.

There is a consoling arm if a race has not gone to plan, or a laugh over some mishap. Holding's jollity can help lighten the mood in a sport where the careers of both horses, and their riders, can be over in an instant.

Holding says he is just happy to help and that he owes his privileged position to his friendship with the trainer. Stoute views it differently. When interviewed at Royal Ascot in 2008, Stoute told the BBC: "Mikey is part of the team."

The former fast bowler becomes even more animated when he recalls how the Queen invited him to take part in the Royal procession at Royal Ascot last year. "An honour."

When he talks about this recognition, it clearly means more to the 56-year-old than his bowling accomplishments leading the greatest ever Test attack – 249 wickets in 60 matches – and winning the 1979 World Cup.

His rhythmic run-up, coupled with a great ability to use every fibre of his 6ft 3ins frame to generate large amounts of bounce and zip off the pitch, saw him called 'Whispering Death' by Dickie Bird, the legendary umpire.

It was also the name given to an enduring racehorse, most recently with Howard Johnson in County Durham, and which delights Holding as he takes up the story.

"It was pure coincidence that Whispering Death was named after me. I just happened to phone the trainer William Haggas when he was with its owners and they were discussing names," he said. "He told them 'It's Mikey, I've got to take this call'.

"After he hung up, they asked him 'Which Mikey was that?' He said 'Mikey Holding'. And so that was that."

It was Holding who was one of the first to discover the potential of Workforce – the recent Investec Derby winner.

He recalls being told by a stable lad, long before the racehorse's first public appearance, that this thoroughbred had the turn of speed to win an Epsom Derby.

He did not believe the stable lad but he kept his counsel and he observed, making mental notes of his own. And, despite the horse's inexperience prior to the Classic 10 days ago, he became convinced that Workforce would win.

Cricket commitments meant he was at Old Trafford for the England versus Bangladesh Test rather than on the Epsom Downs.

He laughs as he recalls how the Sky producer had to compile the commentary rota so that Holding, and fellow racing fans Ian Botham and Mike Atherton, could be off air for the Derby.

"We watched it in the corner of the commentary box and there was a big cheer – Beefy, as usual, had the best odds," says Holding. "He's a great horse and, with so few races, I think the best is still to come. But I do think Workforce will get better and better. It was a very cool piece of riding by Ryan – all the undulations and then reeling in the pacesetter. Just like a fast bowler lining up a tailender."

Just like cricket, Holding has equally forthright views on the future of racing as the sport prepares to celebrate Royal Ascot where the aforementioned Sir Michael Stoute is expected to be leading trainer.

He says the proliferation of Twenty20 matches, which is leading to the decline of Test cricket, is being replicated in racing with the staging of meaningless meetings for little or no financial reward. It has to stop, he adds.

"Look at the card at Yarmouth the other day," says Holding as he warms to his theme.

"Why should people race for 1,200? That is ridiculous. It wasn't just one race. It was every race. It probably cost owners money to run their horses and win.

"You had the Epsom Derby – the greatest race in the world – and, 10 minutes later, the Racing UK channel was switching to another race.

"Why do you need all these extra meetings on the day of the Epsom Derby and Grand National? It's madness."

Holding will not be at Royal Ascot. He is happiest when he is on the gallops, though he did travel across America to watch Stoute and Moore win the 2008 Breeders' Cup with Conduit.

He had watched the horse develop from a foal into a wonderhorse who dethroned America's finest in their own backyard.

"My palms were sweating, my heart was thumping in my chest – and the Americans were thinking 'Who is this guy?' And Conduit won," he recalls.

Holding does not know what the future holds.

His Sky contract runs out in 2012 and his outspoken criticism of Twenty20 means his commentary career may not continue.

"But I will not be far away from horses because of all the pleasure they have given me, and how Sir Michael Stoute winning a big race means as much, sometimes more, to me than my cricketing career."

Michael Holding, former West Indies fast bowler, is the author of No Holding Back: The Autobiography, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, price 18.99.