World champion racehorse and high-class sire Rock Of Gibraltar dies aged 23

Son of Danehill's 16 top-flight winners included Mount Nelson and Society Rock

The then Manchester United manager had been given a half-share in the colt, who first appeared in his red colours winning the Gimcrack. Ferguson believed he had ownership rights to Rock Of Gibraltar’s stallion career and initiated legal action with Magnier and Coolmore.

With Magnier and his associate JP McManus being major shareholders in the club, the argument took on a public dimension before reaching what Ferguson described as "an amicable settlement" in early 2004.

Rock Of Gibraltar has sired 256 stakes performers to date, including 77 worldwide Group winners and 16 at the highest level.

They included Eclipse and Criterium International winner Mount Nelson, Golden Jubilee Stakes and Haydock Sprint Cup winner Society Rock plus Irish 1,000 Guineas and Garden City Stakes heroine Samitar and Hong Kong Cup scorer Eagle Mountain. He had been making a name as a broodmare sire in the 2020 and 2021 Guineas winners in Kameko and Poetic Flare.

Coolmore's Castlehyde Stud manager Paddy Fleming said: “He was healthy and looking great right up to the end. He was a fantastic racehorse and a very good sire who will be missed by all the staff here.”

The winner of the 2013 Melbourne Cup, Fiorente, has died.

The 15-year-old stallion passed away after a battle with illness.

Fiorente was brought to Australia from Ireland by legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse in 2012.

He finished a narrow second in the 2012 Melbourne Cup behind Green Moon but went one better the following year.

Fiorente was ridden by Damien Oliver when he won the Melbourne Cup.

Waterhouse was saddened by his death.

"I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Fiorente," she said on Tuesday night.

"He gave me the greatest joy of my racing life winning the Melbourne Cup in 2013. He was the most beautiful horse to train, so talented and handsome and he took everything before him."

Dual G1 winner Trust In A Gust has been lost to the Victorian breeding industry after Glen Eden Stud announced the passing of their stallion on Tuesday.

The 10-time winner and earner of over $1 million in prizemoney claimed back-to-back Group 1 victories in 2014 when claiming the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.

The son of Keep the Faith who was a $45,000 Inglis Premier yearling purchase would also become a pinup for the Vobis Gold scheme with lucrative wins in the Vobis Gold Eureka, Carat and Star.

The 12-year-old retired to stud in 2016 and covered close to 300 mares in seven seasons.

"Trust in a Gust was a true champion in every sense of the word. His exceptional racing ability combined with his undeniable presence made him a favourite among breeders and racing enthusiasts alike,” breeder Adam Sangster said.

“We are immensely proud to have bred such a remarkable stallion at Swettenham Stud with his dam, Subtle Breeze, still playing her part as a nanny on the farm."

Trust In A Gust sired a winner as recent as last Thursday when the Robbie Griffiths and Matt de Kock trained Tempest Charm saluted at Kilmore.