Gold Cup winner Celeric is to be moved to John Dunlop's stable, it was announced yesterday. His co-owners Christopher Spence and Jonathan Morley have chosen to send their gelding to the former champion trainer following the death of David Morley, whose widow Melanie has elected not to take over the training licence.
Spence announced: "Following the closure of David Morley's yard I and Jonathan Morley have decided to send Celeric to be trained by John Dunlop, who has confirmed he will be delighted to train him.
"It's fair to say that John is who David would have wanted to train Celeric as they were great friends."
The change of stables is unlikely to affect riding arrangements for the six-year-old as his regular partner Pat Eddery rides frequently for Dunlop.
Eddery earned wide praise for one of "the rides of the season" after he brought Celeric from behind to land the feature race at Royal Ascot last June by three quarters of a length from Classic Cliche.
Dunlop, currently on holiday in Australia, has a good record with stayers. He won the Gold Cup with Ragstone in 1974 and already trains likely contenders for 1998 long-distance honours in Silver Patriarch, Orchestra Stall and Samraan.
