John Harry Martin Gosden (born 30 March 1951) is a British racehorse trainer. He has trained over 4,000 winners worldwide, including victories in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Derby, the Arc, the King George and the Eclipse. HeâÂÂs won over 600 races in the United States.
Gosden has trained the winners of over 200 Group 1 races in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He is generally considered one of the finest and most successful turf racehorse trainers of his generation. His reputation for honesty and openness has led him to be called "one of the sport's great communicators".
He trains at Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket, England.
He was educated at Eastbourne College, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he studied Economics and met his future wife, Rachel Hood, a lawyer. At Cambridge, he was a successful sportsman and won blues for both discus and javelin.
Gosden started as assistant to two of the most successful trainers in the history of racing, first to champion trainer Vincent O'Brien and later, Sir Noel Murless. During his time with both men, they won a number of prestigious races including the Derby, the Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.
He then moved to California, becoming assistant to Tommy Doyle, before attaining an American Horse Training license in 1979.
He began his training career with three horses, staying in California as he could only afford to rent single boxes and could not afford anything larger. His wife's work as an attorney paid their rent
In 1983 he trained Bates Motel, a Handicap race horse. Bates Motel won the prestigious Santa Anita Handicap, the San Antonio Handicap and Philip H. Iselin Handicap, and later won the Eclipse Award. "Bates Motel won 'The Big Cap' in front of 85,000 people, it was some occasion", said Gosden later,"My first big winner â everybody needs a break in life and that was mine".
In 1984, he trained Royal Heroine, a turf mare, winning the Gamely Stakes and the inaugural Breeders' Cup Mile. Like Bates Motel, Royal Heroine also won the Eclipse Award. Over the next few years, Gosden won the Hollywood Turf Cup three times, the Yellow Ribbon Stakes twice, the Ramona Handicap twice and the San Antonio Handicap again with Hatim.
He also won both the Matriarch Stakes and the Vanity Handicap twice, the San Luis Rey Handicap with Zoffany, the Carleton F. Burke Handicap with Bel Bolide, the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes with Allez Milord and the Gamely Stakes for a second time.
In 1989, Gosden moved to Newmarket, England, to train at Stanley House Stables. In 1991, he won the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp with Keen Hunter and the Sun Chariot Stakes with Ristna. In 1992, he won the Irish St. Leger, Grosser Preis von Baden and Gran Premio di Milano with Mashaallah, the Prix de la Forêt with Wolfhound, and more than 100 other races.
Throughout the mid-1990s, Gosden formed a successful partnership with Frankie Dettori, winning hundreds of races with the Italian jockey. In 1993, he won the Irish Champion Stakes with Muhtarram, the Cheveley Park Stakes with Prophecy, the Haydock Sprint Cup with Wolfhound and the Premio Roma with Knifebox, in addition to more than 100 other races.
In 1994, he won the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Premio Presidente della Repubblica with Muhtarram, the Lockinge Stakes with Emperor Jones and the Pretty Polly Stakes with Del Deya.
He won the Prince of Wales's Stakes in 1995 at Royal Ascot for the second year with Muhtarram, the Prix Jean Prat with Torrential, the Prix Lupin with Flemensfirth and the Prix de la Salamandre with Lord of Men, among many others.
In 1996, he won the British Classic St. Leger and the Gran Premio del Jockey Club with Shantou. He also won the Prix Marcel Boussac with Ryafan, and the Premio Roma with Flemensfirth.
In 1997, Gosden won the Derby with Benny the Dip. He also won the Gran Premio di Milano with Shantou, and won four major races with Ryafan, the Falmouth Stakes and the Nassau Stakes in England, and the Yellow Ribbon Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes in the United States of America. He later won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in France with Valentine Waltz.
In late 1999, it was announced that Gosden would move to Manton for the beginning of the 2000 season. He quickly enjoyed major successes, in May 2000, he won the 1,000 Guineas Stakes with Lahan. Later in the season, he won both Group One races held at Ascot with Observatory in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Crystal Music in the Fillies' Mile. In 2001, he won the Prix de la Forêt with Mount Abu, and the Prix Marcel Boussac with Sulk.
The 2002 season began well for Gosden. One of his first major victories came when Zenda beat Firth of Lorne in the prestigious Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in France. Coming off the rail in the straight and holding off challenges, the victory was impressive. "Zenda had been working very well at home", said Gosden, "The filly would have won in even better style if she had settled earlier".
He also won the Prix Melisande with Music Club, ridden by Frankie Dettori. Later, Gosden won at Royal Ascot again with Demonstrate in the Buckingham Palace Stakes. He also won the prestigious Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot with Malhub. "I did a wild thing three months ago when I entered Malhub for this race", Gosden said, "I felt a mile was too far and decided to drop him back in distance and give him one smart entry over a shorter trip".
He then won the Prix Maurice de Gheest in France with May Ball. "She has been going well at home and we were expecting a big run", Gosden said afterwards, "It's a wonderful advertisement for keeping a five-year-old in training". He also won with at Chester with Treble Heights for football player Michael Owen, and the Solario Stakes with Foss Way. He also won the Strensall Stakes with Binary File and the Royal Lodge Stakes with Al Jadeed.
In 2003, he won the July Cup and the Nunthorpe Stakes with Oasis Dream.
The 2005 season started well for Gosden. He won the Magnolia Stakes with Day Flight. Frankie Dettori, riding second, had carried them both across the course in the straight. "You wouldnâÂÂt think he used to work for me!", Gosden joked.
Later, Karen's Caper won the Nell Gwyn Stakes. "She really enjoyed coming up the rising ground and is crying out for a mile", Gosden said afterwards. He also won the John Porter Stakes with Day Flight, and the Sunderlands Bookmakers Conditions Stakes with Plea Bargain. Day Flight won again, this time in the Ormonde Stakes.
Gosden then won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot at York with Plea Bargain. "He's a lovely improving horse and the mile and a half is no problem", said Gosden. Playful Act won again, this time in the Lancashire Oaks. "It's been a long road back, but it's been worth it", said Gosden after the race. Playful Act would go on to be considered one of the finest broodmares in recent history.
He later won the Prestige Stakes with Nannina. "SheâÂÂll improve a lot", said Gosden. Nannina then won the very prestigious Fillies' Mile at Ascot. "They set a proper pace and Kieran had Jimmy in the box, but he wasnâÂÂt going to go there and she was well ridden", he said afterwards.
He then won the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot with Leo. Later, Gosden announced his decision to return to Newmarket to train at Clarehaven Stables. "The move to Manton was challenging, but I was pleased to win the 1,000 Guineas with Lahan within four months of being there", said Gosden,"She was our 100th Group winner in Europe". Explaining his decision, he said "I was in danger of being like my hero Bob Dylan, permanently on the road".
Gosden's first season at Clarehaven was successful. He won prestigious races including the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot with Nannina.
The 2007 season started well for Gosden, but it became even better as he won the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot with Royal Oath. After the race, the Racing Post crowned him "Royal Ascot's 'Mr. Reliable'". He also won the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot with Nannina. It was the second time she had won at Royal Ascot. "She seems to find her best form at this course and it was a great training performance", said winning jockey Jimmy Fortune,"All I had to do was steer".
He also won with Raven's Pass, who was becoming widely regarded as a promising horse. He then won the Great Voltigeur Stakes with Lucarno. "The Leger could be the place to go", said Gosden speaking of Lucarno afterwards,"He's got a big stride and knows how to use it". He then won the Solario Stakes with Raven's Pass, breaking the track record. "I think he's a good horse and I like him a lot", said Gosden afterwards, comparing him favourably to two other horses he'd won the race with, Foss Way and Windsor Knot.
Amidst much anticipation, Gosden took Lucarno to Doncaster, and won the very prestigious St. Leger Stakes. "He is a really, really good horse but was a little immature as a two-year-old, which is why he didnâÂÂt run", said Gosden afterwards,"He worked well in the autumn last year and has run nothing but fabulous races all year". "He showed talent last year but I wanted to save him", Gosden also said, "He's done nothing but improve all season".
The 2008 season was an excellent one for Gosden. On the key Guineas trial day, he won four of the day's races with Infallible winning the prestigious Nell Gwyn Stakes, along with Virtual, Prohibit and Pampas Cat. Gosden then won his fourth Sandown Classic Trial with Centennial. Soon after, Michita won the Ribblesdale Stakes and Lucarno, winner of the 2007 St. Leger, won again in the Princess of Wales Stakes. He had another double at Newmarket with Upton Grey and Rainbow View. "She has a high cruising speed and looks like she has some class", said Gosden. Next, Gosden won the York Stakes with Pipedreamer, beating Campanologist. Racer Forever also won the Criterion Stakes for Gosden and Fortune. A successful season continued as Rainbow View won the prestigious Sweet Solera Stakes.
Gosden then won two major races in the same day, the Celebration Mile with Raven's Pass the Great Voltigeur Stakes with Centennial. He then enjoyed more success in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster with Rainbow View, who continued her unbeaten run. "She has done it very well and I couldnâÂÂt be more pleased with her", he said. He then won the Prix Minerve-Shadwell in France with Dar Re Mi, even though the ground was considered to reduce her prospects, "she would appreciate good going the most" Gosden said.
He then had another stunning day at Ascot, winning the showpiece Queen Elizabeth II Stakes with Raven's Pass and the Fillies' Mile with Rainbow View, completing the double for the second time. "We had three plans going in and got down to one in the end", said Gosden. Of Rainbow View he said "I didnâÂÂt train her for a test of stamina, be she's all heart and tough as well". Winning the Timform Million with Donativum allowed Gosden to supplement the two-year-old for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. He continued a great season by winning the Cambridgeshire with Tazeez.
At Santa Anita Park in Los Angeles, one of the tracks on which Gosden had started his training career, he won two of the world's most prestigious races, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with Donativum and the Breeders' Cup Classic with Raven's Pass. Gosden described it as "a day I will cherish".
Gosden's 2009 season began well. He won the Kentucky Derby Challenge with Mafaz, and the Lincoln Handicap with Expresso Star. Then Neeham won the valuable 3-Y-O Trophy at Newmarket. "I really do like these sales races", Gosden said "and Donativum's defeat of Crowed House last year turned out to be a cracker". He then won the Earl of Sefton Stakes with Tazeez, for the same owner.
He then won the Jockey Club Stakes with Bronze Cannon, and had a double with Cadre and Ithbaat. He then won the prestigious Lockinge Stakes with Virtual, beating Alexandros. "It was a fabulous finish", said Gosden, "Twice Over and Pressing took the pace to test Paco Boy's stamina and it played into our favour. He had his head down when it mattered".
He then won the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot with Bronze Cannon. The horse, known as 'The Mighty Mouse' for his small stature, beat Campanologist. He then won the Pretty Polly Stakes with Dar Re Mi. "She stays well and wants a mile and a half, but luckily we got control" said Fortune, the winning jockey. Showcasing also won well. Gosden also won the Prix Eugène Adam in France with |Debussy. Later, Showcasing won the Gimcrack Stakes. "He is very much like his father and has bags of speed", said Gosden.
There was more success for Gosden with Dar Re Mi] as she won the Yorkshire Oaks, beating Sariska. He then won the Washington Singer Stakes with Azmeel, and the prestigious Matron Stakes with Rainbow View. Gosden was happy with the performance, "She did it well today and, similar to some good fillies IâÂÂve had before, she has just taken some time to come to herself this season". He also won the Prix Dollar in France.
In November, Gosden returned to more success at Santa Anita, winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with Pounced, for the second time in as many years. "It feels good to life this prize for the second year at Santa Anita, which I regard as my second home after spending so many years here as a young trainer", Gosden said. He also won the November Handicap with Charm School.
In early 2010, Gosden signed young jockey William Buick to ride for his stable. The decision was widely questioned, Buick was relatively untested at the highest level and Jimmy Fortune was widely regarded as a competent and effective jockey. However, Gosden is widely viewed as a good judge, the only other rider he has ever retained (apart from Buick) is Frankie Dettori. "I didnâÂÂt have a retainer and there has been no falling out", said Fortune, who still often rides for Gosden when Buick is not available.
Almost immediately, Gosden's choice was proved correct as Buick gave Dar Re Mi a fantastic ride to win the prestigious Dubai Sheema Classic. "She was given a beautiful ride by William Buick", said Gosden, "He knows what he is doing and he has a lot of brains". He also talked of the difficulties of training in winter, "Keeping her warm in England wasnâÂÂt easy, so it was quite a challenge".
Gosden continued his success, winning the Cheshire Oaks with Gertrude Bell and the Huxley Stakes with Debussy. He also won the Oaks Trial Stakes with Dyna Waltz, beating Timepiece. He also won the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot with Maqaasid. Gosden was delighted, "You have got a tailwind but she ran great". He also won the Summer Vase at Goodwood with Beachfire. It was the third time Gosden had won the race.
Gosden then won the Arlington Million with Debussy, beating Gio Ponti. Buick delivered a fantastic ride. "He rides cleverly", said Gosden, "He doesnâÂÂt panic in a race". He also won the Doncaster Cup with Samuel.
In September, Gosden won his third St. Leger when Arctic Cosmos beat Midas Touch and Rewilding. "This is the most fantastic experience for me" said winning owner Robin Geffen after another excellent ride from Buick. Soon after, Gosden and Buick won the Prix Foy in France with Duncan. He then won four races in quick succession, with The Shrew, Utley, Treasury Devil and Masked Marvel.
Gosden's 2011 season continued with more success as Gertrude Bell won the Warwick Fillies' Stakes and Investissement won the ToteScoop6 Handicap at Goodwood. He also won the prestigious Musidora Stakes with Jovality. He then won the Yorkshire Cup with Duncan, with another excellent ride from William Buick. Gosden described Duncan as "an enigmatic character" with "a ton of talent". He then won the prestigious King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot with Nathaniel. He also won the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot with Beachfire. "We put the headgear on him and it worked well", Gosden explained.
Soon after, he returned to Ascot with Nathaniel to win one of the world's most prestigious races, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Gosden had let Buick judge the race and did not give his rider many instructions. Nathaniel came to the front and then eased away. "This horse is getting better and better", said Buick after the race. Gosden also won the Summer Double First Leg International with Bronze Prince, and the Canisbay Bloodstock Handicap with Aiken. He had more success in France, as Elusive Kate won again in the Prix du Calvados at Deauville.
Gosden won his fourth St. Leger and second with William Buick as Masked Marvel very impressively beat Brown Panther. After the fantastic performance Gosden said "From the day I saw him as a yearling I thought he was a Leger type". "He was a powerful little guy even then and he's got a great pedigree for the job". Very soon after, Gosden also won the Irish St. Leger with Duncan. Gosden then enjoyed further success when Elusive Kate won the very prestigious Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp, beating a fantastic field including Fire Lily and Zantenda.
Gosden's 2012 season has been one of his most successful. He won the Earl of Sefton Stakes with Questioning and the Musidora Stakes with The Fugue. At Royal Ascot, he was Champion Trainer, winning the Windsor Forest Stakes with Joviality and the Albany Stakes with Newfangled. He then won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot with Fallen For You, the Wolverton Stakes with Gatewood, and the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes with Camborne.
He also won the Pretty Polly Stakes with Izzi Top. He then won three races in quick succession for Serena Rothschild, the Coral Challenge with Trade Commissioner, the Lancashire Oaks with Great Heavens and the Eclipse with Nathaniel. He also won the Bahrain Trophy with Shantaram. He also won the Prix Rothschild with Elusive Kate, and the Irish Oaks with Great Heavens.
He then won the Nassau Stakes with The Fugue. He also won the Great Voltigeur Stakes with Thought Worthy. In October, Gosden won the Tattersalls Millions Trophy with Ghurair, and the Geelong Cup with Gatewood. Gosden was British Champion Trainer in 2012.
Gosden won six Group One races, and over 100 other races in 2013. He won the Falmouth Stakes with Elusive Kate, the Nassau Stakes with Winsili and the Yorkshire Oaks with The Fugue. Elusive Kate also won the Prix Rothschild, The Fugue won the Irish Champion Stakes, and Seek Again won the Hollywood Derby. Gosden was British Champions Series champion trainer in 2013.
Gosden won eight Group One races in 2014, including the Irish 2,000 Guineas with Kingman and The Oaks with Taghrooda. Kingman also won the St. James's Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and the Prix Jacques Le Marois. He also won the Prince of Wales's Stakes with The Fugue, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Taghrooda and the Nassau Stakes with Sultanina. In November 2014, Kingman won the Cartier Award for Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Champion Three-year-old Colt. Taghrooda won the award for Cartier Champion Three-year-old Filly.
Gosden's 2015 season saw him become Champion Trainer again, with Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs generally considered his best horses of the season. He won the Derby and the Eclipse with Golden Horn, the Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes with Shalaa, and the Prix de Diane with Star of Seville. He also won the Irish Derby with Jack Hobbs, after the horse had finished second in the Epsom Derby behind Golden Horn. Later in the season, Golden Horn won the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. "Today you saw the real Golden Horn", said jockey Frankie Dettori. "He put to bed a great Arc field like a true champion. Over the last furlong and a half it would have been impossible for any horse to get near me. I pressed the button and he flew. Think of the horses he has beaten and beaten well. I spent the last furlong enjoying myself. He has given me some tremendous pleasure and is probably the best horse that IâÂÂve ridden."
Gosden finished second in the 2016 Trainer's championship winning the Nell Gwyn Stakes with Nathra, the John Guest Bengough Stakes with Shalaa, the Flying Childers Stakes with Ardad and the Hungerford Stakes with Richard Pankhurst. He also won the Lillie Langtry Stakes with California, The Dante Stakes with Wings of Desire, the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes with So Mi Dar, The Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy with Linguistic and the Earl of Sefton Stakes with Mahsoob. He also won the British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes with Journey at Ascot on British Champions Day.
Perhaps the most significant development of 2016 came not from established stars but from juveniles making their debut in the autumn. Cracksman, Stradivarius and Enable all ran for the first time that season, each winning their sole start as two-year-olds and giving little external indication of the extraordinary careers that lay ahead. Their simultaneous arrival in the yard set the stage for what would become the most decorated period in Gosden's training career. On British Champions Day at Ascot in October, Gosden won the British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes with Journey, providing a Group One highlight at the end of the season.
The 2017 season was defined above all else by Enable, a daughter of Nathaniel trained for Juddmonte Farms. She reeled off successive wins in the Cheshire Oaks, Oaks, Irish Oaks, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Her Oaks victory at Epsom, achieved in record time during a thunderstorm, announced her as an exceptional talent, and she subsequently dominated her rivals in each of the five races that followed, culminating in a first Arc triumph at Chantilly under Frankie Dettori.
Alongside Enable, Cracksman emerged as one of the most exciting middle-distance horses in Europe. Having placed in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby, he stepped up dramatically to win the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day, routing a high-class field. Gosden chose to swerve the Arc with Cracksman, allowing Enable to take her chance in France while Cracksman headed to Ascot, where his dominant performance reminded many observers of his sire Frankel's own victory in the same race. Stradivarius, the other autumn debutant of 2016, won his first Group One in the Goodwood Cup during the summer. The season as a whole represented the emergence of what would become arguably the finest collection of horses Gosden had trained simultaneously at any point in his career, with Enable, Cracksman and Stradivarius all unbeaten at the end of their respective campaigns.
Gosden saddled 162 winners from 647 runners in Britain at a strike rate of 25% in 2018, to become Champion Trainer for the third time. Enable returned from an injury-disrupted campaign to win a second Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, having also taken the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs - becoming the first horse to complete that extraordinary double in the same year. Cracksman added the Coronation Cup at Epsom before a second dominant Champion Stakes victory at Ascot, again in the style of his sire Frankel.
Roaring Lion developed from a promising three-year-old into one of the finest milers of his generation. His five victories included the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, the Juddmonte International at York and the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, and he was named Cartier Horse of the Year, the fourth Gosden-trained horse in five years to receive the award. Stradivarius, meanwhile, dominated the staying division throughout, winning the Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, Yorkshire Cup and Lonsdale Cup. His achievement in winning those four races landed the inaugural Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million bonus for his connections. The Cartier Awards ceremony that autumn reflected the stable's remarkable depth, with Roaring Lion, Enable, Stradivarius and Too Darn Hot all winning divisional prizes. Too Darn Hot, a son of Dubawi out of Gosden's own previous charge Dar Re Mi, won the Dewhurst Stakes unbeaten as a juvenile to earn the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt award, and headed into winter as a short-priced favourite for the following season's 2,000 Guineas. Champions Day at Ascot in October was particularly memorable, with Cracksman, Roaring Lion and Stradivarius all winning Group One races on the same afternoon.
Enable returned for her much-anticipated fifth season, winning the Coral-Eclipse, a second King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and a second Yorkshire Oaks before a narrow defeat in her bid for a historic third consecutive Arc, going down by a short margin to Waldgeist in the closing stages at Longchamp. Stradivarius again swept the staying division, landing his second Stayers' Million courtesy of repeat victories in the Yorkshire Cup, Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup.
Gosden won three classics in 2019. Anapurna was first up in the Oaks before Star Catcher registered the first of her three Group One wins in the Irish equivalent. Logician provided Gosden with a fifth win in the St Leger, and Star Catcher went on to add the Prix Vermeille and the British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes, making her one of the most prolific Group One winners of the season. Too Darn Hot, though frustratingly interrupted by injury and unable to contest the Guineas, still managed to win the Prix Jean Prat and the Sussex Stakes before his career was brought to a premature end. At the Cartier Awards, Enable was named Horse of the Year for the second time, with Stradivarius taking the stayers' prize for a second successive year and Too Darn Hot recognised as Champion Three-year-old Colt. The season confirmed Gosden as the dominant force in British flat racing, with a depth of talent across age groups and distances that no other British trainer could match. He retained the trainers' championship for a second consecutive year, becoming only the second trainer in the sport's recent history to win the title in 2018 and 2019.
The 2020 flat season was significantly disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with racing suspended from late March until June and subsequently conducted without spectators. Gosden nevertheless retained his champion trainer title for a third successive year, his stable depth and the quality of his established horses proving decisive in a condensed season. Among his 149 winners, he enjoyed seven British Group One triumphs including Enable's record third King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Stradivarius's third successive Ascot Gold Cup and fourth Goodwood Cup.
Enable's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes victory â her third in the race and the first horse to achieve such a feat â was a particular highlight of the restricted season. She subsequently attempted an unprecedented third consecutive Arc, but finished sixth in testing heavy ground at Longchamp and was retired at the end of the campaign after a career spanning 19 races and 11 Group One victories. Nazeef added two further Group One wins for the stable in the Falmouth Stakes and the Sun Chariot Stakes, racing for the powerful Hamdan Al Maktoum operation. Palace Pier, a son of Kingman, won the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot to signal himself as a potential top-class miler for the season ahead. Stradivarius won a third consecutive Ascot Gold Cup to join Sagaro and Yeats in a small group of horses to have achieved that feat, and also secured a fourth Goodwood Cup.
Gosden announced he would begin training with his son in March 2021. the pair won the world's most valuable race, the Saudi Cup, followed by the Dubai Turf and the Sheema Classic, all within just over a month. The Saudi Cup was won by Mishriff, a son of Make Believe, who had already won the 2020 Prix du Jockey Club in France. Lord North secured victory in the Dubai Turf, defeating Panthalassa by three lengths under Frankie Dettori, while stablemate Mishriff triumphed in the Dubai Sheema Classic only a few minutes later, edging out Love in a dramatic finish.
Domestically, Palace Pier emerged as one of the finest milers in Europe, winning the Lockinge Stakes, the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. The joint licence's first British Group One success came with Mishriff's dominant victory in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York in August, where the four-year-old held off a strong field by six lengths. The stable also produced an outstanding juvenile in Inspiral, a daughter of Frankel owned by Cheveley Park Stud, who won the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket unbeaten, earning the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly award.
In their first full season, they recorded 133 winners from 651 runners. The combination of Mishriff's global campaign, Palace Pier's miling brilliance and Inspiral's juvenile promise gave the new partnership a formidable platform.
Inspiral, already unbeaten from four juvenile starts, stepped up to become a leading Classic filly in the 2022 season, winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in convincing fashion and the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, confirming her as one of the best milers in Europe. Emily Upjohn, a daughter of Sea The Stars, had a dramatic Oaks at Epsom where she was narrowly beaten having missed the break, but went on to win the British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot.
Nashwa, a Frankel filly bred and owned by Imad Al Sagar, proved the revelation of the season for the Classic generation. Nashwa provided a landmark win in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly, holding off La Parisienne under Hollie Doyle, marking the first success for a female jockey in the race. She went on to win the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, making her one of the most versatile and progressive three-year-old fillies in Europe. Lord North continued his productive international career, winning the Dubai Turf for a second time, while Commissioning won the Fillies' Mile at [Newmarket to emerge as a leading juvenile filly for the following season.
Internationally the stable continued to travel horses widely and successfully, with winners in Dubai, France and the United States supplementing a strong domestic campaign. The emerging rivalry between Inspiral and the best milers in Europe suggested the stable had a genuine force at that distance for several seasons to come. The year also marked the first appearances of Courage Mon Ami, a Frankel-sired stayer who would develop into one of the most popular horses in training over the following two seasons.
Gosden became Champion Trainer again in 2023, with highlights including Classic success in the Oaks with Soul Sister at Epsom in June and notable victories at Royal Ascot with Courage Mon Ami in the Ascot Gold Cup and Mostahdaf in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. Soul Sister's Oaks victory was particularly poignant as it provided Frankie Dettori, in his final season riding in Europe, with his last British Classic winner. Courage Mon Ami's Gold Cup triumph, ridden by Dettori, was also a highlight of the Royal Ascot meeting and proved a decisive race in the championship.
Mostahdaf was responsible for their biggest domestic payday, scooping the prize for his Juddmonte International victory at York in August. Internationally, the stable won big races in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, France and the United States, with Inspiral capping a memorable year in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita. Inspiral also won the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket in October, her sixth Group One victory, cementing her status as the leading older miler in Europe. The championship was confirmed when Trawlerman won the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day at Ascot.
Newbury in May when Audience, a rank outsider, produced one of the shocks of the season by winning the Lockinge Stakes, recording a rating of 123, which ranked him among the leading milers of the season. Internationally, the stable continued its strong presence in France when Friendly Soul, a daughter of Kingman trained for George Strawbridge. Friendly Soul was a shining light for the yard, winning four of her five starts across the season.
Kieran Shoemark's wait for a first Group One as stable jockey came to an end as he delivered Friendly Soul for a hard-fought victory in the Prix de l'Opera in Paris in October, leading home a Gosden one-two as stablemate Running Lion took second. The victory provided a positive note at the end of what had otherwise been a quieter year by the yard's lofty standards. The emergence of Lead Artist, a promising Dubawi colt who won at Group Three level at Goodwood, and the continued presence of Trawlerman in the staying division offered encouragement heading into the following season.
The 2025 season saw Gosden enjoy a brilliant Royal Ascot meeting in June, finishing the week with five winners and edging out Aidan O'Brien to top the trainers' standings at the Royal meeting. The week was lit up by three Group One victories across its first three days. Field Of Gold, a son of Kingman, won the St James's Palace Stakes in electric fashion on the opening day, and Ombudsman â a Night of Thunder colt trained for Godolphin â followed up with victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes on day two despite a troubled run through the field. Trawlerman, a veteran seven-year-old by Golden Horn, then completed the treble with an emphatic Gold Cup win on day three, going one better than his second place to the great Kyprios twelve months earlier.
Field Of Gold went on to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, blasting clear by three and three-quarter lengths, confirming him as one of the leading milers in Europe. Ombudsman won the Juddmonte International at York in August, beating Birr Castle by three and a half lengths, and also took the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot â two Group One victories that established him as a leading middle-distance performer. Lead Artist provided another Group One for the stable, winning the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, while the [Ascot Gold Cup victory for Trawlerman gave the yard its fifth winner of that prestigious staying contest.
GosdenâÂÂs season started well in 2026 with Ombudsman winning the Dubai Turf at Meydan.
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Gosden is called "one of the sport's great communicators". His television interviews are often praised,"Gosden is Cary Grant in Ernie Els's body. He is the Big Easy with a sly smile, a wry wit, and a charismatic charm".
Gosden is a music fan, according to Ronnie Wood, guitarist for the Rolling Stones. "He knows his music history. He knows everything about Bob Dylan, followed by everything about the Stones. He knows all the words and everything", said Wood. Gosden also describes himself as "a Neil Young man", and said "I went to see him the other week at the Hammersmith Apollo and it was just wonderful".
Gosden has said of his position, "You have to move along gracefully if you can, and hopefully with a following wind, with common sense, a sense of reality, humility and a bit of history". His office is decorated with pictures of some of the most successful horses he has trained,"Paintings of champion horses â the filly Ryafan, last year's Breeders' Cup hero Raven's Pass â look down from the walls".
During the time Matt Hancock was Newmarket MP, Gosden donated ã15,000 to the Conservative Party and ã10,000 to the MP's office costs. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to horseracing and training.
He was invited to ride in the King's procession at Royal Ascot 2023.