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Maldivian, the winner of the 2008 Cox Plate, has died.

The 2008 Cox Plate champion Maldivian has run his last race, having died, aged 18. 

Trained by Mark Kavanagh and ridden by Michael Rodd, Maldivian won the Cox Plate to provide the combination won of their proudest achievements. 

In a career spanning 30 starts, Maldivian won three Group 1 races in his haul of nine wins, amassing more than $2.8 million in prize money. 

He was unbeaten in the three starts over the Cox Plate trip of 2040m at Moonee Valley. 

A son of leading Australian and New Zealand champion sire Zabeel, the Cox Plate victory stood Maldivian in elite company by becoming Zabeel's fourth Cox Plate winner, following Octagonal 1995, Might and Power 1998 and Savabeel 2004. 

"Maldivian's name is forever etched on the Legends Wall here at The Valley and he will be remembered fondly for his achievements on the track," said Alastair Dwyer, MVRC's GM - Racing, Media & Communications. 

Maldivian is also remembered for his controversial scratching from the 2007 Caulfield Cup when he reared up in the barriers and suffered a laceration to his neck, returning to the mounting yard with blood streaming from the wound.