Racing: Former trainer Michael Jarvis has died aged of 73, having been ill for some time. Jarvis retired from the training ranks last season and handed over the reins at Kremlin House Stables in Newmarket to his assistant, Roger Varian.
A thorough gentleman, Jarvis was renowned throughout the sport for his impeccable demeanour.
Mick Kinane rode Carroll House to win the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1989, and the legendary jockey credits both trainer and horse with launching him on the international stage.
"It's very sad news," said Kinane. "He was a lovely man to ride for and a lovely man to know."
Kinane went on: "He was a thorough gentleman and such a lovely man. "It's so unfortunate that he didn't get to enjoy his retirement and such is life. Carroll House got me off to a great start, I'd have to say he got me on to the international stage in winning an Irish Champion Stakes and then going on to win an Arc.
"He was my big breakthrough horse so he'll always have a high place in my book."
Varian described Jarvis as a "wonderful man" as well as a "great trainer".
"It's a terribly sad day. Michael passed away this afternoon having lost his battle against cancer," he said. "His achievements and racing exploits go without saying, but first and foremost he was a wonderful man, a true gentleman and I imagine a great husband, a great father and a good friend to many.
"That was Michael Jarvis. He happened to be a great racehorse trainer as well, but first and foremost he was just a wonderful man. He won many big races, but probably put up the bravest fight of his life against cancer. He battled hard and he saw it out as long as he possibly could."
Newmarket stalwart Jimmy Scott, long-serving travelling head lad to Sir Michael Stoute, said: "I have known him for 45 years so it's a terrible day really. What with Mick and Ginger (McCain) dying yesterday, racing has lost two heroes.
"Mick was an absolute gentleman - such a well-mannered fellow, but he was also a brilliant trainer. It is very rare you get that combination. He will never be forgotten and condolences go out to his wife and children."
Northern trainer Richard Guest, who won the Grand National as a jockey in 2001, said: "It's a shame. I worked for him before I went jumping. I used to ride out and he was an absolute gentleman to work for.
"He was a great trainer and his horses were always fit and looked fantastic. He was a great inspiration."
Philip Robinson enjoyed many major successes as Jarvis' stable jockey, including five Group One wins with Rakti.
"It's really heartbreaking. I was trying to get to see him at the weekend, but I was informed by his wife Gay that he was in a very bad way and not able to talk. It's very sad," he told At The Races. "At the end of the day all you can say is that he was a very, very nice man. In all the years I've had anything to do with him I've never known anybody say a bad word about him.
"That for me sums it up. Like people say he was a gentleman and he wasn't just a normal trainer - he was an exceptional trainer, who was able to get the best out of horses. Not just in training them but in placing them.
"It's devastating news. We had a run of a few exceptional years. We won the French Derby with Holding Court, the Italian Derby with Morshdi and then Rakti came along. We had a purple run and it was lovely to be there with him.
"At the time we enjoyed it and it was a privilege to be there with him."
Jarvis leaves a widow, Gay, and three daughters, Sarah, Lisa and Jackie. The son of a former National Hunt jockey, Jarvis turned his hand to training having ridden three winners himself.
He became head lad to Towser Gosden (John Gosden's father) in Lewes and stayed for another two years when Gordon Smyth took over after Gosden's retirement.
It was in 1968 that Jarvis set out on his own as a salaried trainer to David Robinson at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket, now the yard of Clive Brittain.
In 1975 he moved to Clarehaven Stables and a year later on to Pegasus Stables, but it was at Kremlin House he enjoyed his greatest successes.
As well as Carroll House's exploits, Eswarah won the Epsom Oaks in 2005, Ameerat landed the 1000 Guineas in 2001, Holding Court won the French Derby in 2000 and the brilliant Rakti claimed a host of big races between 2002 and 2005, including the Champion Stakes, Prince Of Wales's Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Lockinge.