Recent years have witnessed a surge in joint licences on the British racing scene. One of the most common combinations sees a father joined by his son on the licence. Whilst not always the case, the next step in this journey often sees the father leave the training operation in the sole care of his son. Mark & Charlie Johnson is now simply Charlie Johnson and Roger & Harry Charlton has become Harry Charlton, to give two examples.
Last Thursday brought news of another entry to this list, as Classic-winning trainer Paul Cole announced his retirement with immediate effect. Now 83 years old, the successful handler has enjoyed almost six decades in the sport and introduced his son Oliver as a joint licence holder in 2020. Secure in the knowledge that his Whatcombe yard is in safe hands, Cole senior has decided that the time is right to relinquish the reins of the business he built.
From Humble Beginnings to Hill House
Born in Kent in 1941, Paul Fredrick Irvine Cole had links to agriculture through his farming grandfather but no ties to the racing world. Despite that, a career in the sport captured the imagination of a young Cole. Following his education at King’s School in Taunton, Paul chose to pursue a career as a racecourse trainer over more conventional options.
Learning his trade under Les Kennard, George Todd, and Richmond Sturdy, Cole set out on his own in 1968. Initially operating out of Hill House in Lambourn, the fledgling handler registered his first success with Optimistic Pirate at Beverley on 11th May 1968.
Building slowly but steadily in those initial years, Cole’s first significant win came when saddling Owenboliska to claim the 1974 edition of the Zetland Gold Cup. Three years later, John De Coombe provided a breakthrough Group 1 victory for his handler when travelling to France to claim the 1977 Prix de Salamandre. Grabbing a first domestic pattern contest with Shapina in the 1978 Fred Darling Stakes, Cole was ready to take the next step up the ladder.
Classic Winners from Whatcombe
Cole’s rise through the training ranks had caught the eye of Saudi Prince Fahd Salman. Having purchased the impressive training facility at Whatcombe, the nephew of Juddmonte supremo Khalid bin Abdallah promptly installed Cole as his trainer in 1986.
Given better facilities and a higher class of horse to work with, Paul Cole really began to show what he could do. In double quick time, a string of international Classic trophies took pride of place in the Whatcombe trophy cabinet.
Paul Cole Classic Wins
- Epsom Derby – Generous (1991)
- Irish Derby – Generous (1991)
- St. Leger – Snurge (1990)
- Irish Oaks – Knight’s Baroness (1990)
- Irish St. Leger – Ibn Bey (1990), Strategic Choice (1995)
- Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) – Culture Vulture (1992)
- Prix Royal-Oak (French St. Leger) – Mr Dinos
- Derby Italiano – Zaizoon (1987), Time Star (1994)
- Oaks d’Italia – Bright Generation (1993)
- St. Leger Italiano – Jape (1992)
Dual Derby Hero Top of the Tree
Of the many horses to have passed through Whatcombe over the years, the brilliant 1991 Derby winner Generous is undoubtedly the best.
Following an up-and-down juvenile campaign, Generous announced himself as a horse of some potential with a 50/1 shock success in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. The 2000 Guineas didn’t go to plan on his first step into Classic waters, but he was a different proposition over 1m4f. Following a 5l romp in the Epsom Derby, the flashy chestnut added the Curagh Classic to his haul before posting a stunning 7l victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Such was the talent of this son of Caerleon that his peak official rating of 137 is only 3lb below that of the mighty Frankel.
Big Boots to Fill
Paul Cole ends his career with an impressive 2,429 British wins (2,319 as the sole trainer and 110 in partnership with Oliver). Included in that number are 32 Group/Grade 1 events and 22 victories at Royal Ascot. Crowned British Champion Trainer in 1991 and winning the International Trainer of The Year Award on four occasions (1987, 1990, 1991, and 1992), he has certainly set a high bar for his successor.
However, Paul has every faith in his son.
“I’ve been sharing the licence with my son Oliver since 2020, and I’m just very old now. Oliver knows what he is doing and is more than capable”.
Oliver himself suggests it will be a case of business as usual as his legendary father settles into his retirement, stating:
“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 licence.”
