GUY HARWOOD paid a warm tribute to his former stable jockey Greville Starkey, who died on Wednesday at the age of 70 after an eight-year battle with cancer. The now-retired Pulborough trainer formed a formidable partnership with Starkey in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

They won a host of big races, both at home and abroad, with legends of the turf that included the great Dancing Brave, Ela-Mana-Mou, Kalaglow, Lear Fan, Rousillon, Recitation and Sadeem.

Harwood and Starkey enjoyed Classic success in the 2000 Guineas with To-Agori-Mou in 1981 and Dancing Brave five years later.

“I best remember Greville for his dedication, hard work and being a really great jockey, even more as a stable jockey,” said Harwood.

“He was a trainer’s dream in so many ways that he was such a good judge of every horse he rode and that makes a trainer’s life ever so much easier.

“He was a great character, he was full of life and a great party man.

“Many of our victories stand out, for me particularly I think Kalaglow in the King George at Ascot. Greville rode a tremendous race that day.

“There’s obviously the Guineas winners we had together, both in France and in England. A horse called Olympic Glory when he won the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot also springs to mind.

“That was a fantastic ride. He came through on the rail and there wasn’t a lick of paint between him and the horse next door to him. That was an amazing performance.

“He was a great man and had a terrific feel for his horses, he used to ride beautifully.

“He understood his horses better than any other jockey I’ve ever known,” Harwood said.

Starkey won the Eclipse on Dancing Brave but suffered a controversial defeat on Khalid Abdullah’s star colt in the 1986 Derby.

Their late surge came too late to prevent Shahrastani from landing the Epsom Classic.

Starkey was heavily criticised, but the winning rider that day, Walter Swinburn, felt he was hard done by.

“He was the making of Dancing Brave. He rode him as two-year- old, he won the Guineas and the Eclipse on him, but it was the Derby,” said Swinburn.

“He didn’t do anything wrong in my mind. It’s a fine line. Had he got up by a head or a neck then all those who came out and tried to hang him for his ride would have been shouting his name from the rooftops.

“It was Greville’s horsemanship that helped make the horse. Apart from being a fantastic jockey, he was a fantastic horseman and understood horses.

“He rode some great horses and his association with Guy Harwood was obviously a special one. It was one of the great associations.

“It’s really sad news. I knew he hadn’t been well for a while but it still comes as a shock.

“He was one of life’s great characters. He was extremely helpful to young jockeys coming through. He always had time for them.”

Starkey did win the English and Irish Derby in 1978 on Shirley Heights for John Dunlop.

“He was a great jockey at his best. He will always be remembered by me for winning that Derby so narrowly, and particularly at the Curragh when he also won by a head,” said the Arundel trainer.

“He was a fine rider. Sadly, I hadn’t seen him for some years but I’d heard he hadn’t been well for some time.

“One greatly appreciated his skills as a jockey.

“I am very sorry to hear the news.”

Starkey won five British Classics, the others coming on Homeward Bound in 1964 and Fair Salinia (1978).

He also landed a shock victory on the German-trained Star Appeal in the 1975 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

He was connected to a leading stable throughout his career, firstly riding for Tom Jones to whom he had been apprenticed, then John Oxley, Henry Cecil and Harwood.

He rode for many other trainers during his 33 years in the saddle, including Michael Stoute, who provided him with his final winner, Rock Hopper, at Newmarket in November 1989.

Born in Lichfield, his first success was on Russian Gold at Pontefract in June 1956 and he was champion apprentice the following year with 45 winners.