Epsom Derby-Winning Trainer Paul Cole Retires

Oliver Cole said he is "looking forward to the future" after his Derby-winning father, Paul, announced his retirement with immediate effect June 25. Paul Cole, 83, has been based at the Whatcombe estate since 1986 and is passing the training business across at an opportune moment, according to Oliver, 44, who joined his father on the license in 2020. Oliver Cole said: "It's a big decision for him, but the business is going well and it's a nice position for him to be able to fully hand things over. I've learned a lot from him and because of him horses are second nature to me, really. "We've shown we've been able to carry on getting quality results together, so even though he won't be on the license it's going to be business as usual here. It's obviously a day of sadness, but at the same time we're all looking forward to the future, and that includes him as he's still going to be here helping. "I'm extremely fortunate to be able to continue to train at Whatcombe, which to my mind is the best training yard in the country, and we're ready to deliver plenty more success in the future as we have done since having the joint license." Paul Cole was initially installed at Whatcombe as principal trainer to Saudi royal Prince Fahd Salman, who had purchased the property in 1984, and went on to claim numerous successes with horses in the owner's olive green silks. The greatest of these was Generous. Winner of the 1990 Dewhurst Stakes (G1) at 50-1, Generous dominated the following summer with victories in the Epsom Derby (G1), Irish Derby (G1), and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (G1), earning him the accolade of Horse of the Year in both Britain and Ireland. Cole was crowned champion trainer in 1991 and continued to enjoy big-race success with outstanding 2-year-olds such as Dilum, Magic Ring, Sri Pekan, and Culture Vulture, who also won the 1992 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, G1) for owner Chris Wright. The likes of Snurge, winner of the 1990 St Leger (G1), Ibn Bey, Knight's Baroness, Strategic Choice, and Mr Dinos were also classic winners for the trainer, while he enjoyed international success with Zoman in the 1992 International Stakes (G1T) at Laurel Park and Snurge in the same year's Canadian International Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine. Cole was rocked by the sudden death of Salman, the son-in-law of Prince Khalid Abdullah, who had been influential in building his interest in racing, in 2001 from a heart attack. However, he continued to send out high-class performers such as Mr Dinos, who landed the 2003 Gold Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot, Berkshire, Strategic Prince, and Duke of Hazzard. Speaking to The Sun about his decision to retire, Paul Cole said: "I've been sharing the license with my son Oliver since 2020, and I'm just very old now. Oliver knows what he's doing and is more than capable. "What a lucky decision I made to go into racing. I started very humbly and we won some of the biggest races." After moving to a joint license, the Coles continued to enjoy success, training 110 winners on the flat in Britain between 2020-25. They included Highland Chief (IRE) winning the 2020 Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot—the last of Paul Cole's 22 winners at the fixture—Majestic Dawn landing the same year's Cambridgeshire Handicap, plus group 2 victories with Sumo Sam (GB), Jack Darcy (IRE), and Royal Scotsman (IRE).