Racing:Australia champion jockey Stathi Katsidis was found dead in his home this morning and while police said the cause of death was not yet known there were no suspicious circumstances.
Katsidis, 31, was enjoying his greatest year in the saddle, winning the Magic Millions Classic on the Gold Coast riding filly Military Rose, before claiming the Group One Randwick Guineas and Group One AJC Australian Derby on Shoot Out.
Katsidis and Shoot Out were to team up again in Australia's weight-for-age championship the Group One Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday, and then the country's most famous race, the Melbourne Cup on November 2nd.
News of the death of the three-time premiership winning jockey in Brisbane shocked the Australian racing industry.
"He was a terrific guy, loaded with ability and is going to be sadly missed," said Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Corey Brown. "He was riding the crest of a wave, riding a very good horse in Shoot Out. For something like this to happen, I really just can't understand it.”