Newmarket trainer Alec Stewart, best known for his association with dual Coral-Eclipse winner Mtoto, died this morning aged 49, after a long illness.
The handler was also famous for his successful link with owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, for whom he trained the likes of high-class Group One winner Mutamam.
Mutamam won the Canadian International in 2001, one of several top races jockey Richard Hills won for Stewart.
"It's very sad. I have known him all my racing career," said Hills. "He was assistant to Tom Jones when I was an apprentice. I rode for him when he first started training and he gave me my first real chances when I won the Prince Of Wales's on Mtoto.
"Then there was Wagon Master and obviously Mutamam, who I won the International on in Canada, and there have been a lot of other great horses as well.
"He was a great friend, a greater trainer and will be sadly missed. It's terrible.
"I rode work for him on King George day and that was the last time I saw him, and he didn't look very well then."
Stewart took out a trainer's licence in 1983, having previously spent four years as assistant to Tom Jones.
Willie Carson rode a number of winners for Stewart, notably when partnering Wagon Master to victory in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes and the September Stakes.
Carson said: "He was so young. It was a brave battle he had, and my wife and I are very saddened from the news.
"He was a true gentleman, that's what he was.
"I don't know what to say, it's just very sad. I had the highest respect for him."