Classic-winning trainer Jeremy Noseda retires with a 'smile on my face'

Classic-winning trainer Jeremy Noseda surprised the racing world on Thursday when he announced his retirement after 23 years.

Noseda landed the St Leger with Sixties Icon in 2006 and enjoyed 14 Group and Grade 1 victories in a training career that started in California in 1995.

The Newmarket trainer, 55, worked for John Dunlop, John Gosden and Godolphin as an assistant and returned to Britain to train towards the end of 1997.

Noseda, who celebrated a first British winner with Nautical Warning at Lingfield in 1998, enjoyed his highest number of victories in a year in Britain with 62 in 2011, while his best year in terms of prize-money came during a memorable campaign in 2006, when his string accrued more than £1.2m.

He recorded 19 victories in Britain in two of the last three years and four winners from 32 runners since the turn of the year.

Noseda, who has been based at Shalfleet Stables since 1998, said: "The time is right for me to walk away. I will be leaving the sport with a smile on my face and with a lot of great memories.

“I've been lucky enough to enjoy many fabulous days as a trainer and also earlier in my career."

Sixties Icon: landed the St Leger for Noseda at York in 2006Credit: Edward Whitaker

Alongside St Leger success that year, Araafa landed the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes and Simply Perfect rounded off the turf season by winning the Fillies’ Mile.

Two years earlier he landed the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Lone Star Park with Wilko.

He said: "I would like to thank my owners for their support over the last 20 years and, in particular, I would like to thank my staff for all of their highly skilled work and dedication.

"If there is sadness at this time it is that I will no longer be here for them. Several worked with me at Godolphin and then for me in Newmarket.

"Indeed there are those who I would count as very good friends. I know that they are among the very best staff in Newmarket and will have no trouble finding good positions within other stables."

Noseda had two triumphs at the Dante meeting at York last month with Bomb Proof landing a novice stakes on his debut on the opening day and the Paul and Susan Roy-owned Garrus scoring in the Listed Westow Stakes the following day – his 870th and final winner in Britain.

The Roy family have been longstanding supporters of Noseda and the former BHA chairman paid tribute to their trainer and friend.

Roy said: “Myself and Jeremy have been talking about the future for a while now and he feels it’s the right time to move on. I honestly think there’s been no better trainer in Newmarket in terms of the results he’s achieved with the ammunition he’s had.

"His strike-rate has been second to none, and on a personal basis, I never dreamed that I could win a St Leger, a Breeders’ Cup race or a July Cup, all of which I achieved with Jeremy. He and the team are simply the best and it’s a hugely sad day for me."

Classic success with Sixties Icon was a memorable day for the owners, particularly one aspect of the afternoon at York.

Roy said: "My memories of the day when Sixties Icon won the St Leger tell an awful lot about Jeremy as he wasn’t actually there. He was working 24/7 trying to find us some more horses in Keeneland, which says a lot about him."

The Roy-owned horses will be moved to their assistant trainers Charlie Fellowes, Charlie Hills and Ed Dunlop.

Noseda will saddle his final runners at Royal Ascot and is looking forward to spending time with his family in the coming weeks.

He said: "I have no immediate plans for the future, except for the fact that I will be taking a two-week summer holiday with my sons Richard and James. It will be the first time I have enjoyed a proper summer holiday with them and I’m really looking forward to that.”

Noseda's Group and Grade 1 winners

1998 Cheveley Park Stakes - Wannabe Grand
2003 Cheveley Park Stakes - Carry On Katie
2003 Middle Park Stakes - Balmont
2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile - Wilko
2005 Sussex Stakes - Proclamation
2006 Irish 2,000 Guineas - Araafa
2006 St James’s Palace - Araafa
2006 St Leger - Sixties Icon
2006 Fillies’ Mile - Simply Perfect
2007 Golden Jubilee - Soldier’s Tale
2007 Falmouth Stakes - Simply Perfect
2009 July Cup - Fleeting Spirit
2010 Irish St Leger - Sans Frontieres
2011 Jamaica Handicap - Western Aristocrat

If you enjoyed this, you should read:

Peter Thomas interview with Jeremy Noseda in 2010

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