Derby-Winning Trainer Paul Cole To Retire, As Son Oliver Takes Over The Reins

The 1991 Derby-winning trainer Paul Cole is retiring – announcing on Wednesday 25th June 2025 that he’ll be handing over his horse racing training license fully to son Oliver. 

Horse Racing Trainer Paul Cole Retiring – Handing The Reins Over To Son Oliver 

Aged 83, Paul Cole has decided to called time on a horse racing training career that has spanned over 37 years being based at Whatcombe Estate in Berkshire – which is about 14 miles from Newbury racecourse and 43 miles from Ascot, where Cole had many winners.

At the recent Royal Ascot meeting, over the years Cole fired in 21 winners that included the likes of Sri Pekan and Dilum winning Coventry Stakes.

Dilum was owned by the late H R H Prince Fahd Salman and it was for this top owner that Paul Cole had one of his biggest successes as a trainer – when Generous won the 1991 Derby.

Generous powered down the Epsom straight to see off the classy Marju by five lengths and went onto take the Irish Derby at the Curragh next time out.

Which is something this year’s Derby hero Lambourn will be trying to repeat for Aidan O’Brien in the Irish version this Sunday.

In his career Generous also won the 1991 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and 1990 Dewhurst Stakes.

The good-looking chestnut ended this career winning six of his 11 starts and winning £1,119,943 in total prize money – which considering his career was 35 years ago was a staggering amount.

He went onto be a successful stallion at stud and died in 2013 aged 25.

Generous The Best I Trained, Said Cole

“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.” Paul Cole told the Sun Newspaper

Cole had trained over 1,500 British winners and had shared the license with his son Oliver since 2020.

Plus was also crowned British champion flat trainer in 1991 – the same season Generous won the Derby.

WATCH: Generous Winning The 1991 Derby For Paul Cole

The Paul Cole retiring news came after a statement to the Sun newspaper with the trainer saying

“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.”

He went onto say he put much of his success down to his wife Vanessa, who sadly died in May 2024.

Saying she brought calmness and understanding.

Paul Cole Won Saturday’s Northumberland Plate THREE Times 

In addition to his many group and classic wins, Paul Cole also had a top record in Saturday’s Northumberland Plate.

He won the big Newcastle handicap three times in his career – when the race was run in the turf.

These wins came back in 1997 with Windsor Castle, 1998 with Cyrian and 2001 with Archduke Ferdinand.

The Cole yard unfortunately doesn’t have a runner in 2025, but the key Northumberland Plate trends suggest if you are having a play in the race to look for horses aged 6 or younger that also finished in the top five last time out.

This year’s race can also be seen live in ITV Racing this Saturday at 3:15pm

Horse Racing Trainer Paul Cole Big UK Wins 🏇

• Ascot Gold Cup – Mr Dinos (2003)
• Cheveley Park Stakes – Pass the Peace (1988)
• Derby – Generous (1991)
• Dewhurst Stakes – Generous (1990)
• Fillies’ Mile – Culture Vulture (1991)
• King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – Generous (1991)
• Lockinge Stakes – Broken Hearted (1988)
• Nassau Stakes – Ruby Tiger (1991, 1992)
• St. Leger – Snurge (1990)
• Sun Chariot Stakes – Lady in Waiting (1999)
• Yorkshire Oaks – Bint Pasha (1987)