International Trainer of the Year

Forward thinking and ambition to campaign horses outside the realms of Britain and Ireland is recognised here with this unique award which has been supported by the International Racing Bureau since its establishment in 1981.

The first winner, Ian Balding, led by example due to the path taken by top three-year-old Glint Of Gold but his decision-making was partially due to the presence of the great Shergar. Balding was keen not to repeat the ten-length thrashing Gint Of Gold suffered in what proved a historic Derby later, and instead they would make history in Europe by becoming the first British-trained winner of the Grand Prix de Paris and the Preis von Europa.

Paul Cole, another who enjoyed success across Europe and America with the likes of Generous, Zoman and Ibn Bey, won the prize four times and it took John Gosden’s fantastic French results in 2019 to level his tally. Sir Michael Stoute, Saeed bin Suroor and Aidan O’Brien share three wins respectively.

A memorable 2023 helped John and Thady Gosden make history as the first training partnership to win a Derby Award. 

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