Japanese legend Symboli Rudolf has died aged 30 at Symboli Farm in Narita.  Known as ‘The Emperor’, he claimed the 1984 Triple Crown before winning the Japan Cup a year later.

“He wasn’t well for the last two or three days and he had the shivers on Monday,” Symboli Farm director Takahiro Wada said.  “The vets gave him nutrients but he died at 3am on Tuesday.”

Trained by Yuji Nohira, the son of Partholon swept the 1984 Satsuki Sho (Guineas), Tokyo Yushun (Derby) and Kikuko Sho (St Leger).

He beat older horses in the Arima Kinen and returned in 1985 to land the Tenno Sho (Spring) before taking the Japan Cup and a second Arima Kinen.

A two-time Horse of the Year, Symboli Rudolf did not have the best of stud careers apart from Tokai Teio who won the 1991 Japanese 2000 Guineas – Derby double prior to G1 victories in the 1992 Japan Cup and Arima Kinen.