IAN Balding, the multiple Group 1-winning trainer best known for his handling of Mill Reef, has died at the age of 87, it was announced on Friday.

The son of trainer Gerald Balding, Ian Balding was a successful amateur jockey, winning the 1963 National Hunt Chase a year before taking over the licence at Park House Stables following the death of his father-in-law Peter Hastings-Bass.

He didn’t wait long for his first big-race win, with Silly Season landing the Coventry Stakes in his first season as a trainer. Murrayfield took the 1968 running, but it was the 1970 edition which proved most memorable for Balding, when Mill Reef bolted up by six lengths.

Paul Mellon’s homebred excelled as a three-year-old, capturing the Epsom Derby, Eclipse Stakes, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of the 20th century, Mill Reef was one of seven classic winners trained by Balding during his career.

Dual champion sprinter Lochsong and Sun Alliance Hurdle victor Crystal Spirit demonstrated Balding’s versatility as a trainer, while other notable horses through his hands included Glint Of Gold and Selkirk. The Balding legacy continues in the training ranks today through his son Andrew.

On Friday, his daughter Clare posted on Facebook: “My Dad was one of a kind. Fearless, funny and charming, he was an all-round sportsman, a great trainer and a beautiful horseman.

“He loved his dogs, his horses and his family - probably in that order. He shared with me his passion for sport and taught me to be brave enough to chase a dream, even if it seemed impossible. We’ll miss him so much.”