Carson pays tribute to retiring ‘master trainer’ Dunlop

Willie Carson saluted John Dunlop as “one of the true legends of the sport” after the veteran trainer announced he is to retire at the end of the current British Flat season, the end of a career that saw him send out over 3,500 winners.

Carson rode hundreds of Dunlop horses to victory, including Erhaab in the Epsom Derby among many others.

The filly Salsabil, successful in the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Irish Derby, was another top-class animal the pair teamed up with, as was the great sprinter Habibti.

Carson said: “He is one of the true legends of the sport. “He is a master trainer and I can only give him the highest praise.”

Twice winner of the Epsom Derby with Shirley Heights (1978) and Erhaab (1994), Arundel-based Dunlop, 73, also saddled three St Leger winners in Moon Madness (1986), Silver Patriarch (1997) and Millenary (2000).

Other big wins on his roll of honour include three 1000 Guineas winners – Quick As Lightning (1980), Salsabil (1990) and Shadayid (1991) – and two Oaks winners in Circus Plume (1984) and Salsabil (1990), with the latter also winning the Irish Derby, as did Shirley Heights.

Only the 2000 Guineas eluded him of the five Classics run in Britain.

Awarded an OBE for his charitable work and responsible for over 3,500 winners, Dunlop said: “There are several reasons behind the decision to retire. I now have much reduced stable numbers and it is now less viable than it once was. My wife has also been ill for quite a while as well, so that has been a factor and I can also now live in the shadow of my very successful sons.”

Born at Tetbury in Gloucestershire, Dunlop first took out a training licence in 1966 and was champion trainer in 1995, sending out a total of 10 Classic winners.

Another highlight in an illustrious career which saw 74 Group One victories was the flying sprinter Habibti, winner of the July Cup, Nunthorpe, Haydock Sprint Cup and Prix de l’Abbaye in 1983.

Lahib won the Queen Anne Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 1992 while Bahri won the St James’s Palace Stakes and QEII in 1995.

Arguably one of the finest horses to pass through the doors of Dunlop’s Castle Stables yard was Sakhee, who finished second in the 2000 Derby to Sinndar and then fourth to Giant’s Causeway in the Coral-Eclipse.

Married to Susan in 1965, Dunlop has two sons, Ed and Harry, both of whom are now successful trainers.