Carson pays tribute to ‘great’ Dunlop
John Dunlop, who died aged 78 on Saturday, was one of racing’s legendary trainers. He was at the top of his profession for over three decades and sent out more than 3,500 winners including 74 Group One races, 10 of which were domestic Classics.
He first took out a licence in 1966 having served as an assistant to both Neville Dent and Gordon Smyth and soon proved himself a gifted trainer.
He was most definitely one of the “old school” and throughout his distinguished career he earned great respect for his skill and professionalism. Very few of his horses failed to fulfil their potential and, indeed, many exceeded it.
Based at Castle Stables in Arundel, West Sussex, he steadily built up his formidable team and was one of the first trainers to have a 200plus string under his command. He was also instrumental in encouraging Arab interest in British horse racing and trained Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum’s first winner in Britain, Hatta, which won at Brighton.
He would later strike up a formidable partnership with Sheikh Mohammed’s brother, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, for whom he won the 1994 Derby with Erhaab and many other top-class races.
Willie Carson, who was Sheikh Hamdan’s first jockey at the time, enjoyed great success with Dunlop and paid a glowing tribute to the trainer.
Speaking to Racing Post, he said: “He was a great man and I rode a hell of a lot of winners for him – more for him than any other trainer. He was a super man to ride for and we had a great relationship. It was a great partnership. We knew what was expected of each other, and we knew what the horse would want without a great debate.”
Sheikh Hamdan’s racing manager, Angus Gold, has fond memories of Dunlop and held him in the highest regard. He said: “He was a fantastic man and he was a huge part of my life. Where do you start? He trained us a Derby winner in Erhaab. Salsabil was a top-class mare who won the Guineas and the Irish Derby.
“Marju was favourite for the Guineas and got beat before finish- ing second in the Derby and then he came back just over 10 days later to win the St James’s Palace Stakes, which was a remarkable performance. He was a huge part of Sheikh Hamdan’s life and he had the utmost respect for him and he thoroughly enjoyed their relationship.”
Dunlop was champion trainer just once, in 1995, the year that was also his most successful numerically, when 126 winners set forth from his Sussex stables
Dunlop’s sons, Ed and Harry, are both successful racehorse trainers. Ed said in a statement on Saturday: “My father will be greatly missed by so many. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and also a brilliant trainer. He also gave tirelessly to charity work.”