TRAINER Martyn Meade, who saddled his first Group One winner at Chantilly last month, has purchased the majority of the historic Manton Estate in Marlborough.

The Meade team will leave Newmarket towards the end of the year with the aim of starting training from the Wiltshire base at the start of 2018 Flat season.

Meade, currently based at Sefton Lodge, enjoyed a successful season with a first top-level success as Aclaim finished his career off in style when landing the Gr1 Qatar Prix de la Forêt.

The handler was also successful in both the Gr3 Bet365 Craven Stakes and Gr 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano with Eminent, a son of the legendary Frankel, who remains in training and will have big targets next year from his new base.

Meade also saddled Dolphin Vista, who landed the Betfred Cambridgeshire Handicap, and two-year-old Chilean, who looks set for a big campaign next year.

More than 50 Classic winners have been trained at Manton, since the first, Gang Taylor, prepared by Alec Taylor Sr, who won the 2,000 Guineas in 1873.

Brian Meehan, who currently trains out of the Astor Yard, will remain in place at the venue, which has also hosted the likes of Barry Hills and George Baker, while Peter Chapple-Hyam trained Dr Devious and Rodrigo De Triano to Derby and 2,000 Guineas success from there in 1992.

John Gosden became the sixth trainer to send out a British Classic winner from Manton when Lahan landed the 1,000 Guineas in 1999.

Meade said: “Sefton Lodge has been a wonderful base for us since 2014, but we are obviously very excited about this new venture and hope to build on what has been a great season for the team.

"There is a hugely positive feeling about the move and following Aclaim’s Group One win at the end of this season we hope to build on the success and follow the legacy that Manton brings with it.

“Since returning to the training ranks, we have been committed to producing top-class racehorses and I can’t think of a more ideal setting for us to continue this journey than Manton, which has long been associated with the very best horses.”