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Sea Hero, the oldest surviving Kentucky Derby winner, has died at the age of 29 in Turkey.

Sea Hero, a son of Polish Navy, won the 1993 Kentucky Derby and the 1993 Travers Stakes in his 3YO season.

Trained by Mack Miller, Sea Hero upset the favourite Prairie Bayou in the Run for the Roses could finish only fifth in the Preakness Stakes and seventh in the Belmont Stakes.

He bounced back to take the G1 Travers Stakes, known as the Midsummer Derby, by two lengths at Saratoga in New York.

He also won the G1 Champagne Stakes at Saratoga as a 2YO. A life-size bronze statue of Sea Hero stands in in the Saratoga paddock commemorating his accomplishments.

He first stood at stud at Lane's End in Kentucky and was responsible for 13 US black type winners, including the G1 winner Cindy's Hero.

Sea Hero was sold for $700,000 at the 1999 Keeneland November Sale and continued his stud career in Turkey where he was leading stallion for many years until he was pensioned from stud duties in 2015.

Bred in Virginia by the legendary Paul Mellon, Sea Hero was a half-brother to G1 winner Hero's Honor and multiple black type winner Glowing Honor. His dam Glowing Tribute, by Graustark, was named broodmare of the year in 2003.