Research Corner
Trainers are generally creatures of habit and if an approach has worked for them previously, they tend to follow the same path.
With that in mind we will continue with the theme of looking into trainer traits with the aim of trying to uncover some angles that will hopefully provide us with some winners and profit going forwards.
First up is the fairly new team of father and son John and Thady Gosden who took out a joint training licence in 2021.
John and Thady Gosden
Based at Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket the yard has enjoyed success at the highest level all over the world with the notable achievements in John’s career including winning the Derby twice, the Prix de l’Arc Triomphe three times and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Teaming up on a joint licence quickly bore fruit as 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.
If we benchmark the most recent performance of their runners on the UK Flat turf and All-Weather we find the following for the period 2018 up to the end of June 2023.
A track record of in excess of 20% winning strike rate year in year out with close to halve of the yards runners being placed to boot.
John spent a decade training in California and the experience gave him the view that the use of headgear on a horse was not considered a negative but could be used to help the horse concentrate.
Of course, many of the yards runners go to the track without the fitting of headgear but let us consider what happens when they do in particular for the first time: –
The standout from the above table is the strike rate and profitability of the yards runners when they run fitted with a hood for the first time. The A/E is not too shabby either at 1.48!
System 46: JO-105-46-RC-SC: Back the runners trained by John & Thady Gosden when they are wearing a hood for the first time.
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