'He took life and racing by the horns' - former trainer Gavin Hunter dies at 81

Gavin Hunter, who trained a number of Pattern winners during a 20-year career with a licence, has been remembered with fondness and affection following his death at the age of 81.

Hunter, who died at Newmarket on Sunday, enjoyed his first winner in 1966 with Pappa Surprise at Catterick. His best horse was Shangamuzo, who was successful in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot in 1976 and the following year's Doncaster Cup before being transferred to Michael Stoute, for whom he won the 1978 Gold Cup.

Super Cavalier (July Stakes, National Stakes), Western Jewel (Cornwallis Stakes), Chummy's Special (Norfolk), Penmarric (National Stakes) and Super Sunrise (Chester Vase) were other notable winners.

Hunter was based at Kennet House in East Ilsley in Berkshire and ended his training career in 1985 before relocating to South Africa to work as a steward in the 1990s.

Kim Bailey, who was a neighbour of Hunter's when he first started training, said: "He was a real character, a person who took racing and life by the horns. He was a sharp operator whom I remember would canter his two-year-olds on the roads around the village to harden their shins and then, when the ground was fast at a track like Bath or Salisbury, they'd win and he'd sell them to America."

Former trainer Martin Fetherston-Godley worked for Hunter and also remembered him fondly.

He said: "I went to work for him as a very green, ex-City boy in 1979 as a pupil assistant and graduated to being assistant before I took over the yard in 1986.

"He was a good trainer and we had some pretty nice horses in those days including Chummy's Special and Russian George, who won the Bessborough among other races.

"He was a very good judge of a yearling and a very good trainer of a two-year-old; we had a number of first-time-out winners and he knew how to get them ready.

"He was a lovely man – a great guy to work for – and he helped me buy horses when I started training. He came back to England in the last 18 months, but would come back for Royal Ascot every year."

Fetherston-Godley, who stopped training in 1999 but has retained interests in the sport, added: "We had some great times and great days and I don't think I've ever won as much money in my life when Super Sunrise won the Haynes, Hanson and Clark at Newbury.

"It was after Henbit and Shergar had won it and he'd done some spectacular bits of work; I think he was 8-1 and he bolted up."

Hunter is survived by his daughter Claire Horniman, grandchildren Henry and Milla and his long-term partner Karin Dobbie, whose daughter Rebecca is married to Newmarket trainer Ed Dunlop.

His funeral will take place at noon on January 23 at St Peter's, Church Lane, Snailwell, CB8 7LZ. His family welcomes anyone considering attending.