Cape Cross, sire of champion racehorses Golden Horn and Sea The Stars, has died aged 23 following complications associated with old age.

Cape Cross, who retired from active stallion duties in 2016, was also the sire of Ouija Board, who won six times at the highest level, including the Oaks.

Joe Osborne, managing director of Godolphin Ireland, for whom Cape Cross stood at Kildangan Stud, said: "He has been an integral part of the Godolphin and Darley stories, and an integral part of Kildangan.

"He was our first major success as a stallion. He was champion first-season sire, making an immediate impact, and went on to sire a collection of outstanding racehorses, who left their mark in some of the world's great races.

"As an individual, he was the boss. You did it his way. He very much ruled the roost."