The popular Grade One winning trainer, best known for Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, has sadly passed away from a rare form of cancer.

Sad news came in from the United States this morning with the passing of leading trainer Christophe Clement at the age of 59. A long and distinguished career saw him learn his trade from father Miguel in France, Shug McGaughey in the United States, and as assistant trainer to Luca Cumani in Newmarket, before he branched out on his own with a return to the United States where his first runner was a winner when Spectaculaire scored at Belmont back in 1991.

A long and distinguished career of 34 years saw him record over 2500 winners, 40 at Grade One level, where he amassed over $166 million in prize money. Tonalist, the winner of seven races in 2014 and 2015 including the Belmont Stakes, the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (twice), and the Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct, all Grade Ones, was perhaps his best known runner worldwide, but his career was so much more than just the one horse.

He is the brother of leading French trainer, Nicolas Clement.

His son, Miguel, will assume the stable training with immediate effect, and was already being lined up to take over, and although he clearly has big shoes to fill, everyone will be wishing him all the best.