Oliver Cole hails father Paul as ‘real legend’ after announcing his retirement

Oliver Cole has described his father Paul Cole as a “real legend” after he announced he is to retire following 38 years in the training ranks.

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.”