Racing mourns the loss of Alec Stewart
Having taken out a training licence in 1983, following four years as assistant to Tom Jones, he went on to establish a highly-successful partnership with South African-born jockey Michael Roberts.
The pair enjoyed a fruitful association and landed several top races with some high-class performers.
But undoubtedly the star turn among them was Mtoto, with whom they bagged the Coral-Eclipse Stakes in 1987 and 1988, the year in which the brilliant son of Busted also took the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot.
“It is very sad news indeed as he was a great man and what you would call a true friend,” said Roberts yesterday.
“I owe him a lot as he helped me a great deal when I first came to the UK and he was always there for me during the 17 years I was here.
“Mtoto and Waajib were easily the best horses I rode for him - they were two great horses that he handled - and would be the highlights for me. He was a great trainer - in my eyes he was fantastic.”
“I last spoke to Alec in May, from South Africa, and my condolences go out to his wife Katherine and his children.”
