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The 2003 Hong Kong Derby winner Elegant Fashion has died at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand at the age of 20.

Elegant Fashion carried the colours of long-time owner and breeder Dr and Mrs Gene Tsoi Wai Wang with distinction at the top level of HK racing and passed away at her retirement home on Friday morning.

Imported by Dr Tsoi and trained by former Hong Kong handler David Hayes, Elegant Fashion won four races and placed 12 times in 26 starts during her racing career in Hong Kong between 2003 and 2005.

Those four wins included that famous Derby victory in 2003, when she justified favouritism to become the first filly to land the Classic since Corvette in 1976, but she also tasted big-race success in the 2003 International Cup Trial and the 2004 Chairman’s Trophy.

Elegant Fashion also ran a brave second in the 2004 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup and star French rider Gerald Mosse, who partnered her in the famous Derby victory, paid tribute to her as “a wonderful filly with that rare blend of speed, stamina and a big heart.”

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, also paid tribute to Elegant Fashion and said: “It was very sad to hear of the passing of Elegant Fashion, who occupies a special place in Hong Kong racing legend as the first filly to win the Hong Kong Derby since Corvette back in 1976.

Our thoughts are with the connections, especially Dr Tsoi who has been a great supporter of both Hong Kong racing and the international racing and breeding industries.”