Latest news with #Generous
The Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Derby-winning trainer Paul Cole announces his retirement
Legendary trainer Paul Cole has announced his retirement from horse training and will pass over the running of his yard to his son Oliver. The 83-year-old notched up 21 Royal Ascot successes, plus one in his recent partnership with Oliver and over 1,500 British winners, many out of his yard at Whatcombe in Oxfordshire, where he'd moved in 1987. Those included Generous, who gave Cole some great days, adding both the Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes to his Epsom triumph. Speaking to The Sun, Cole said: "I looked out at a horse this morning and just thought the time has come for me to retire. I've been sharing the licence with my son Oliver since 2020, and I'm just very old now. "Oliver knows what he's doing and is more than capable." At one time recognised for his prowess with juveniles, Cole won the 1990 St Leger with Snurge and also landed the 2003 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot with Mr Dinos. No stranger to success abroad, he won the 1992 Washington DC International with Zoman, plus two Italian Derbys and an Irish Oaks. He nominated Generous as the best horse he had trained. Cole attributed his success down to luck, determination and help from his late wife Vanessa who passed away in May of last year. He also revealed the best horse he ever trained was Generous who stormed to victory in the Derby in 1991. He said: "I have loved training but it was a way of earning some money, be able to get married and be able to educate the children. That's why we travelled the horses so much. So we could earn people money who owned the horses. "Generous was like Roy Rogers' famous animal Trigger in that he was a flashy chestnut and by Caerleon who wasn't that popular. "We did have to go above budget, to 200,000 Irish guineas, but we got him. Generous was the best I trained. He had an incredible turn of foot – he won over 5f first time out. "When he kicked nothing was going to pass him."
Leader Live
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Oliver Cole hails father Paul as ‘real legend' after announcing his retirement
Perhaps best known for saddling brilliant 1991 Derby winner Generous, the 83-year-old enjoyed over 1,500 winners during a stellar career which began in Wantage in 1987, and later became British Flat champion trainer in 1991, with his son pointing out he was in competition with a 'golden era' of trainers. 'He's a hell of a legend and has done it from scratch,' said Cole. 'He came from a golden era of trainers and was able to hold his own amongst them and was even champion in 1991. 'In his heyday when he had all of those good horses, he was leading trainer at Royal Ascot in 1994 with four winners and he trained one of the best horses ever in Generous with the way he was destroying those fields. 'He also had some amazing two-year-olds in Dilum and Strategic Prince and horses like Culture Vulture and Mr Dinos. He had the backing of some great owners along the way who enjoyed themselves and he's a real legend.' Since 2020, the Coles have shared the licence, enjoying Royal Ascot glory with Highland Chief in 2020 and also thriving with the high-class Royal Scotsman. Oliver will now take over the operation at Whatcombe on a full-time basis, a privilege he puts firmly down to his father's influence and success. 'We're very lucky to be training at Whatcombe, it's an amazing facility and it's an honour to be on the licence, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here,' he added. 'It's gone very well as a pair, but now it's down to me to just keep the show on the road. He won't be going anywhere, he's a great man to work with and great for advice, we'll keep kicking. 'I'll discuss with him when things formally hand over, but I imagine it will be pretty soon.' As well as claiming the Derby by five lengths under Alan Munro, the Fahd Salman-owned Generous completed the English-Irish Derby double at the Curragh and landed the King George at Ascot. In revealing his retirement plan to The Sun, Cole senior said the chestnut Generous was the 'best I trained', adding: 'I looked out at a horse this morning and just thought the time has come for me to retire. 'I've been sharing the licence with my son Oliver since 2020, and I'm just very old now. Oliver knows what he's doing and is more than capable.'
North Wales Chronicle
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Oliver Cole hails father Paul as ‘real legend' after announcing his retirement
Perhaps best known for saddling brilliant 1991 Derby winner Generous, the 83-year-old enjoyed over 1,500 winners during a stellar career which began in Wantage in 1987, and later became British Flat champion trainer in 1991, with his son pointing out he was in competition with a 'golden era' of trainers. 'He's a hell of a legend and has done it from scratch,' said Cole. 'He came from a golden era of trainers and was able to hold his own amongst them and was even champion in 1991. 'In his heyday when he had all of those good horses, he was leading trainer at Royal Ascot in 1994 with four winners and he trained one of the best horses ever in Generous with the way he was destroying those fields. 'He also had some amazing two-year-olds in Dilum and Strategic Prince and horses like Culture Vulture and Mr Dinos. He had the backing of some great owners along the way who enjoyed themselves and he's a real legend.' Since 2020, the Coles have shared the licence, enjoying Royal Ascot glory with Highland Chief in 2020 and also thriving with the high-class Royal Scotsman. Oliver will now take over the operation at Whatcombe on a full-time basis, a privilege he puts firmly down to his father's influence and success. 'We're very lucky to be training at Whatcombe, it's an amazing facility and it's an honour to be on the licence, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here,' he added. 'It's gone very well as a pair, but now it's down to me to just keep the show on the road. He won't be going anywhere, he's a great man to work with and great for advice, we'll keep kicking. 'I'll discuss with him when things formally hand over, but I imagine it will be pretty soon.' As well as claiming the Derby by five lengths under Alan Munro, the Fahd Salman-owned Generous completed the English-Irish Derby double at the Curragh and landed the King George at Ascot. In revealing his retirement plan to The Sun, Cole senior said the chestnut Generous was the 'best I trained', adding: 'I looked out at a horse this morning and just thought the time has come for me to retire. 'I've been sharing the licence with my son Oliver since 2020, and I'm just very old now. Oliver knows what he's doing and is more than capable.'
South Wales Guardian
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Oliver Cole hails father Paul as ‘real legend' after announcing his retirement
Perhaps best known for saddling brilliant 1991 Derby winner Generous, the 83-year-old enjoyed over 1,500 winners during a stellar career which began in Wantage in 1987, and later became British Flat champion trainer in 1991, with his son pointing out he was in competition with a 'golden era' of trainers. 'He's a hell of a legend and has done it from scratch,' said Cole. 'He came from a golden era of trainers and was able to hold his own amongst them and was even champion in 1991. 'In his heyday when he had all of those good horses, he was leading trainer at Royal Ascot in 1994 with four winners and he trained one of the best horses ever in Generous with the way he was destroying those fields. 'He also had some amazing two-year-olds in Dilum and Strategic Prince and horses like Culture Vulture and Mr Dinos. He had the backing of some great owners along the way who enjoyed themselves and he's a real legend.' Since 2020, the Coles have shared the licence, enjoying Royal Ascot glory with Highland Chief in 2020 and also thriving with the high-class Royal Scotsman. Oliver will now take over the operation at Whatcombe on a full-time basis, a privilege he puts firmly down to his father's influence and success. 'We're very lucky to be training at Whatcombe, it's an amazing facility and it's an honour to be on the licence, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here,' he added. 'It's gone very well as a pair, but now it's down to me to just keep the show on the road. He won't be going anywhere, he's a great man to work with and great for advice, we'll keep kicking. 'I'll discuss with him when things formally hand over, but I imagine it will be pretty soon.' As well as claiming the Derby by five lengths under Alan Munro, the Fahd Salman-owned Generous completed the English-Irish Derby double at the Curragh and landed the King George at Ascot. In revealing his retirement plan to The Sun, Cole senior said the chestnut Generous was the 'best I trained', adding: 'I looked out at a horse this morning and just thought the time has come for me to retire. 'I've been sharing the licence with my son Oliver since 2020, and I'm just very old now. Oliver knows what he's doing and is more than capable.'
South Wales Argus
25-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Oliver Cole hails father Paul as ‘real legend' after announcing his retirement
Perhaps best known for saddling brilliant 1991 Derby winner Generous, the 83-year-old enjoyed over 1,500 winners during a stellar career which began in Wantage in 1987, and later became British Flat champion trainer in 1991, with his son pointing out he was in competition with a 'golden era' of trainers. 'He's a hell of a legend and has done it from scratch,' said Cole. Generous claimed the 1991 Derby for Paul Cole (Jim James/PA) 'He came from a golden era of trainers and was able to hold his own amongst them and was even champion in 1991. 'In his heyday when he had all of those good horses, he was leading trainer at Royal Ascot in 1994 with four winners and he trained one of the best horses ever in Generous with the way he was destroying those fields. 'He also had some amazing two-year-olds in Dilum and Strategic Prince and horses like Culture Vulture and Mr Dinos. He had the backing of some great owners along the way who enjoyed themselves and he's a real legend.' Since 2020, the Coles have shared the licence, enjoying Royal Ascot glory with Highland Chief in 2020 and also thriving with the high-class Royal Scotsman. Trainer Paul Cole trained many big winners during his career (Julian Finney/PA) Oliver will now take over the operation at Whatcombe on a full-time basis, a privilege he puts firmly down to his father's influence and success. 'We're very lucky to be training at Whatcombe, it's an amazing facility and it's an honour to be on the licence, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here,' he added. 'It's gone very well as a pair, but now it's down to me to just keep the show on the road. He won't be going anywhere, he's a great man to work with and great for advice, we'll keep kicking. 'I'll discuss with him when things formally hand over, but I imagine it will be pretty soon.' Generous and Alan Munro winning the King George at Ascot (Adam Butler/PA) As well as claiming the Derby by five lengths under Alan Munro, the Fahd Salman-owned Generous completed the English-Irish Derby double at the Curragh and landed the King George at Ascot. In revealing his retirement plan to The Sun, Cole senior said the chestnut Generous was the 'best I trained', adding: 'I looked out at a horse this morning and just thought the time has come for me to retire. 'I've been sharing the licence with my son Oliver since 2020, and I'm just very old now. Oliver knows what he's doing and is more than capable.'
