Gainsborough Thoroughbreds
SIMON & ED CRISFORD
INTERNATIONAL
RACEHORSE TRAINERS
On 20 August 2023, Vandeek achieved Group 1 success in the Prix Morny at Deauville, providing Simon Crisford and Ed Crisford with their first top-level victory as trainers, an achievement years in the making. The son of Havana Grey had already established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting juveniles when winning the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, before confirming his class by remaining unbeaten in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. His exceptional campaign marked him out as one of the leading two-year-olds of his generation.
In May 2020, Simon and Ed became the first racehorse trainers in the UK to hold a joint licence. The move reflected the natural evolution of a partnership that had been developing since the beginning of the stable.
Simon launched his training operation in October 2014 following a distinguished career in racing, most notably as Racing Manager to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Godolphin operation. Ed joined from the outset, bringing experience from the Irish National Stud, time with Eoin Harty in California and four seasons as assistant to John Gosden.
GALLERY
The stable made an immediate impact, recording 22 winners in its first season including a breakthrough Group 3 success when First Selection won the Solario Stakes. As the yard developed, further notable performers emerged. Century Dream provided a major early highlight with victory in the Group 2 Celebration Mile, while A’Ali added further Group success when landing the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes.
The yard quickly built a reputation for producing talented juveniles and fillies. Flotus was a standout early example, impressing with a dominant maiden win before progressing to victory in the Listed Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy and later achieving Group success in the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York.
Recent seasons have seen the operation firmly establish itself among the leading Newmarket stables, producing high-class performers across a range of distances. West Wind Blows, a horse that won on his first two racecourse starts, went on to become the trainer’s first runner in the 2022 Epsom Derby. This was followed by a course record-breaking performance at Hamilton in the Listed Glasgow Stakes, a race that was won again the following year by Chesspiece, the duo’s first runner and winner for Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Godolphin.
International success has followed. Poker Face secured major victories in the Group 2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan Racecourse and the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp, while Quddwah developed into a high-class miler with success in the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot and further wins in Dubai. Among the fillies, Choisya reached the top level with victory in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes, having previously recorded back-to-back Group 2 wins in the Cape Verdi Stakes and Balanchine Stakes during the Dubai Carnival.
Operating from Gainsborough Stables on Newmarket’s Racecourse Side, the yard benefits from world-class facilities and access to extensive training grounds. The team also maintains a strong international presence through its satellite yard at Meydan Racecourse, competing annually at the Dubai World Cup Carnival. Their success in Dubai has become a defining feature of the operation. On Super Saturday 2026, the team recorded a remarkable treble: Quddwah captured the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes, Meydaan delivered an authoritative performance in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Classic on dirt, and Title Role completed the evening with victory in the Listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas.
That success carried through to Dubai World Cup Night, where Fairy Glen added another standout international victory in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup, underlining the strength and depth of the team during the Carnival.
Previous standout performers include Algiers, who won the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile before taking the opening two rounds of the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge and finishing second in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, highlighting the stable’s ability to compete, and succeed, on the global stage.
