JONATHAN Pease has decided to end his career as a trainer at the end of the year.

Since he took out a licence and set up at Chantilly in 1979, the 63-year-old has won many top races in France and the US where he has saddled three Breeders’ Cup winners. Another might be added in October when Karakontie goes for a second successive Mile.

In Ireland, the St Leger went his way with Turgeon and Tony Cruz in 1991. Five years later, he landed the Irish 2000 Guineas with Spinning World who was partnered by Cash Asmussen.

A discreet and shy man, Pease was not always at ease with the press. Indeed, in 1986 when Swink and Walter Swinburn gave him a first Group 1 success in the Grand Prix de Paris, Pease was nowhere to be seen in the winner’s enclosure. Instead, he was tucked away in the racecourse stables to relish the first most important victory of his career on his own.

In 2004, Thierry Gillet carried the Niarchos family colours when winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Bago and he might have won the Prix du Jockey Club if Act One had not injured himself when chasing Sulamani home in 2002.

His first Breeders’ Cup success came with Tikkanen in the 1994 Turf race and the second with Spinning World in the 1997 Mile.

Pease learnt his trade first with Toby Balding and Clive Brittain in England before a longer stint with the legendary Francois Mathet at Chantilly.

Announcing his retirement last Monday, he mentioned his 37 enjoyable years and thanked his excellent and loyal staff and particularly six employees who had been with him for over 25 years.

The huge support from his two main owners, the Niarchos family and George Strawbridge has been greatly appreciated and his highlights were winning the Arc and three Breeders’ Cup races. He concluded that he will be leaving France as his three daughters all live abroad but will hopefully keep some racing interests.

Maria Niarchos-Gouaze described Pease as “a horseman in the truest sense. Gifted with patience and precise timing. He always knows how to produce a horse for the big day.” She also mentioned that the Englishman had trained 28 Group winners for her family and 16 were at the highest level.

In fact, Pease could have been a talented journalist as he always had his nose to the ground and very often interesting titbits when we met on the track.