John Dunlop calls time on brilliant career By Bruce Jackson 12:00PM 13 SEP 2012 JOHN DUNLOP has announced his retirement from the training ranks after a glittering career lasting 46 years during which he won ten British Classics and countless Group 1s. Dunlop, who is 73 and an OBE for his charity work, has trained from Castle Stables in Arundel and has had Hamdan Al Maktoum as a big supporter. Dunlop listed Shirley Heights, his 1978 Derby winner, Sheikh Hamdan's Salsabil, winner of the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and Irish Derby in 1980, and star sprinter Habibti as the three best horses he trained. Dunlop retires having only failed to train a 2,000 Guineas out of the five domestic Classics. Two Derby and two Oaks winners are backed up by three wins in the 1,000 Guineas and three in the St Leger. Dunlop suffered a ruptered aorta which nearly claimed his life late in 2001 but he was soon back at the helm.
Wish him a long and happy retirement, he has been a great ambassador for racing over the years and has handling of Salsabil was superb. I remeber this filly's 3YO season vividly. She won the Prix Marcel Boussac as a 2YO and at 3 she mopped up the Fred Darling, 1000GNS, Oaks, Irish Derby (first filly for 90 years to win this!!!) and Prix Vermeille before disappointing for the only time in her career in the Arc from a bad draw.
A favourite of mine who deserved a better final season to bow out on. The handicap king as I knew him- his horses would always develop gradually. Is anyone taking over Princess?
I've not heard anything TopClass. I'm told that the rent on Arundel is horrific (we're talking 6 figures annually) and I don't know that anyone would want to take that kind of pressure on.
A great trainer of horses who will also go down as a proven sire as we will continue to see the Dunlop name upon our racecards for many a year to come thanks to Ed and Harry.
Interesting about the rent. Dunlop used to train for the Norfolk family and if my memory isn't shot he slotted into Arundel when Gordon Smyth moved out and got Towser Gosden's stable (and a Derby winner). So from '66 Dunlop trained and I suppose the best horse for the Norfolk's was Ragstone who won the Gold Cup. He also trained Moon Madness to win the St Leger etc. for them but something must have then happened ( perhaps in the shape of Lady Herries), because Herries trained Celtic Swing and others. Was it that he was no longer their public trainer that caused the situation on the rent. Always seemed a really good bloke. Always first to congratulate the trainer who had beaten him. Bore great personal sadness in a reserved and gentlemanly way. Yes deserved a better last year, but few have them.
