TOP UK trainer John Gosden (photo) believes breeding stayers is “not a dead end street” commercially and has called on the industry to do all it can to promote horses with stamina.

Speaking at the launch of the £1 million Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million series at the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket on Monday, Gosden welcomed the introduction of any initiative that would incentivise the breeding and ownership of staying horses, who he said have the ability to bring the attention of the general public to racing.

John Gosden.

“We have to open our minds and to have our stayers promoted in every way possible, otherwise we will end up with pretty boring and one-dimensional racing,” he said. “There is no doubt staying races capture the imagination and anything we can do, we must.

Gosden also challenged the notion that breeding staying horses is not as commercially viable as producing speedy juveniles and argued that there are plenty of opportunities for those who show talent over an extended trip.

“And if you’ve got a lovely staying horse who goes on top, then the Australians will be knocking your door down, so it’s not a dead end street, quite the opposite – there’s a hell of a future for these horses.” – RP Bloodstock.