A Ryedale stable is coming to terms with the loss of its stalwart performer, a horse, who won more than £245,000 in prize money and was widely admired for his courage and consistency.

Vintage Premium, triumphant at Epsom on Derby Day 2002, and due to contest the Vodafone Rated Handicap on the corresponding programme last Saturday, died the day before, after suffering a heart attack on trainer Richard Fahey's Malton gallops.

"He just staggered off the gallop and that was it, he was gone," said Fahey. "It's just so sad. I'll never have another like him. He was the kindest, nicest horse you could find and was so brave on the track. It took some horse to get past him."

Owned by Jim Parsons, Vintage Premium won a total of seven races, but also finished second 11 times and third on five occasions.

His finest success, apart from winning the opening race on Derby Day two years ago, came in the John Smith's Cup at York, later that season, when he won in a photo-finish under regular rider Paul Hanagan.

"That was typical 'Vintage', he battled and battled and refused to give in," said Fahey, who was thrilled to see the seven-year-old return to the winners' circle, back at York, last month with another hard-earned victory.

Just 36 hours later, the tough-as-teak gelding turned out at Hamilton and went down by only a neck in a listed race.

"He was looking a million dollars and I don't think I'd ever had him in better form than he was recently," said Fahey. "Having had him so long, we're going to miss him terribly, but he'll be buried here on the place."

Brian Ellson's Norton yard has also suffered a sad loss in Shayadi, a useful hurdler and an up-and-coming novice chaser, who was fatally injured in a fall at Perth last Sunday when attempting to supplement his recent success at Sedgefield.

Updated: 15:08 Wednesday, June 09, 2004