Before Jack Hobbs, Halling's best offspring included Opinion Poll (Dubai Gold Cup), Cavalryman (Grand Prix de Paris) and Norse Dancer (Earl of Sefton Stakes).

[5] Swain's Gold was daughter of the Orchid Handicap winner Golden Pond[6] who was in turn a granddaughter of Connaught's half-sister Daffodil Day.

[7] Before foaling Jack Hobbs, Swain's Gold had produced the successful handicapper Niceofyoutotellme[8] and a mare named Mrs Greeley who won three minor races.

[11] On his first appearance as a three-year-old, Jack Hobbs carried a weight of 125 pounds in a ten furlong handicap race at Sandown Park Racecourse on 24 April.

[12] Although his pre-race handicap rating of 85 suggested that he had a great deal of improvement to make to reach the highest standard he was immediately regarded as a serious contender for The Derby.

[13] Three weeks later the colt was moved up in class for the Dante Stakes (a major trial race for the Epsom Derby) over ten and a half furlongs at York Racecourse.

He got the better of Elm Park but proved no match for his stablemate Golden Horn, who accelerated past him in the closing stages to win by two and three quarter lengths.

[16] On 6 June, Jack Hobbs was one of twelve colts to contest the 236th running of the Derby Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse.

Gosden had expressed some doubts about risking the colt on the prevailing firm ground but decided to run after Jack Hobbs performed well in a training gallop at the track.

It was the 150th running of the event and the Irish Turf Club invited many previous winning owners, trainers and jockeys to the race which was regarded as the most competitive renewal for several years.

[18] Giovanni Canaletto and Storm The Stars were again in opposition, as well as The Oaks winner Qualify, the Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Highland Reel and the previously undefeated Radanpour.

"[24] Jack Hobbs began his third season in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on 30 April and started odds-on favourite against five opponents headed by the St Leger winner Simple Verse.

On his first appearance as a five-year-old Jack Hobbs was sent to the United Arab Emirates to contest the Dubai Sheema Classic over 2400 metres at Meydan Racecourse on 25 March, and was equipped with blinkers for the first time.

Ridden by Buick he raced in third place behind Highland Reel before taking the lead in the straight and won by two and a quarter lengths from Seventh Heaven with Postponed in third.