Charlie Fellowes has bought Luca Cumani’s historic stable in Newmarket and the ambitious young trainer is to move in his string of horses in the next couple of weeks. The 120-box Bedford House Stables – built in 1820 and listed since 2006 – is one of the town’s most prestigious yards and has been Cumani’s base for more than 40 years, during which time he prepared the winners of many major races, including two Derbys, before retiring last year.

“This is probably the worst kept secret in Newmarket,” Fellowes said, speaking in a regular podcast he shares with another up-and-coming young trainer, George Scott. “It’s pretty amazing. It is one of the most beautiful yards in Newmarket. It’s got a few more boxes than I need at the moment, but that means we’ve got plenty of room for anyone who wants to send us some horses. It’s got everything you could possibly want and it’s a home for life.

These places don’t come up very often, so I’m very, very, very lucky. Luca and Sara have been amazing, I owe a huge amount to them and, if I can train half as many Derby winners as Luca did, I’ll be a very happy man.”

It is an exciting time for Fellowes, who has a live contender for the Derby in seven weeks’ time in King Ottokar, following the colt’s Newbury success on Friday. The 32-year-old grabbed some headlines in the autumn when he sent Prince Of Arran to Australia to win a £100,000 handicap and then run third in the Melbourne Cup three days later.

Brendan Powell, who is at the other end of his training career, announced on Sunday that he is to join Joseph O’Brien’s team in County Kilkenny. “Joseph wants to spend more time in the yard, so I’m going to go racing and look after owners and syndicates,” said Powell, who retired last week.

Luca Cumani produced two Derby winners at the stable which has been bought by Charlie Fellowes. Photograph: Frank Baron/The Guardian

The possibility of a French challenger for the 2,000 Guineas next month increased when the André Fabre-trained Persian King was an impressive winner at Longchamp. Fabre had indicated that the Newmarket Classic was only a second or third option for his horse but, with the favourite Too Darn Hot missing an intended prep race and his own horse making evident progress, he may be more tempted.

“It is undecided at this stage,” the Frenchman said. “One of the factors will be what happens on Wednesday,” an allusion to the Craven Stakes at Newmarket, sometimes the most influential Guineas trial. Persian King is now 10-1 for the Guineas, from 16s.