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Noel Hennessy, perhaps the last link to legendary sire Star Kingdom, has died at the age 80.

The well-known Hunter Valley horseman may have been the last person to see and handle Australia’s most influential sire of last century.

Star Kingdom died on April 21 in 1967 at Baramul Stud in the Widden Valley.

Maitland-born Hennessy had joined the staff at Baramul in 1957 when the stud was owned by Sydney solicitor Alfred Ellison.

He became the stud groom and cared for Star Kingdom at Baramul for the last nine years of the stallion's life.

He also looked after Todman, the champion son of Star Kingdom who won the inaugural Golden Slipper, when he stood at Baramul Stud.

The brilliant Biscay was also handled by Hennessy, both as a foal when he was raised at Baramul and later when he returned to the property to stand as a sire.

Among other horses raised under Hennessy’s care at Baramul were the champion Star Kingdom filly Citius and Todman’s Golden Slipper winning son Eskimo Prince.

Noel Hennessy had been living in retirement at Denman in the Hunter Valley.