Multiple Group One-winning filly Soviet Song has died at the age of 15.

Multiple Group One-winning filly Soviet Song has died at the age of 15.

The mare, owned and bred by the Elite Racing Club, was put down at the Oak Lodge Stud in Kentucky

"She was put down on Monday, sadly," said Elite's racing manager Dan Downie.

"She was special in lots of ways. She was home-bred and our first ever Group One winner and she went on to win five.

"She had been struggling with her feet and it got progressively worse. I was over in Kentucky for the Breeders' Cup and went to see her.

"We agreed - me and Suzy (Fitzsimons) who runs Oak Lodge Stud where she was - that she couldn't carry on like that.

"She was an amazing horse really."

Trained by James Fanshawe, Soviet Song won her first Group One as a two-year-old in the Fillies' Mile at Ascot in 2002 and went on to record four more victories at the top level in the Falmouth Stakes (twice), the Sussex Stakes and the Matron Stakes.

She was retired at the age of six after winning nine of her 24 starts and amassing over £1,168,000 in prize-money.

Soviet Song did not have much luck as a broodmare but her last offspring, a yearling filly by Speightstown, could change that.

"We've got one yearling filly by Speightstown who is going to go into training with James Fanshawe," said Downie.

"That's her only one now. Fingers crossed she'll be OK. She was around for quite a long time as a racehorse. She won three times at two and was retired at six. Her career as a mare didn't really happen, but hopefully this yearling will do us proud. She will be named shortly."

Fanshawe paid Soviet Song the ultimate tribute by describing her as the "best filly" he has trained.

The Newmarket handler said: "She was really good because she won a Group race at two and raced on until she was six. She was the best filly I've trained.

"She won five Group Ones and as a four-year-old she was the highest-rated filly in the world. When she won the Falmouth at the age of five that was special.

"She didn't have the same luck as a broodmare as she did as a racehorse. The yearling daughter by Speightsown has just arrived here with us.

"Ribbons is her niece and Zest is another niece. She's won her maiden so hopefully she can carry the banner on.

"The thing about Soviet was she wasn't just a brilliant filly and mare, she had tremendous character. She had a great personality.

"She had presence, that aura about her. Elite membership increased significantly when she was in training. She played up to that when Elite came round on their visits, she loved all that."

Johnny Murtagh rode Soviet Song to four of her five Group One triumphs and will never forget the day she lowered the colours of dual 1000 Guineas heroine Attraction - for a second time - in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in 2004.

"It's very sad news. She was a terrific filly - top drawer," he said.

"The day she won at Leopardstown beating Attraction was one of my favourite memories of her.

"She was trained by a great trainer. James Fanshawe did a wonderful job with her to keep her going for so long at such a high level.

"She was up there with the best I've ridden."