Refuse To Bend, a half-brother to the Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle, has died from a heart attack.

The 2000 Guineas winner in 2003, Refuse To Bend was once a member of Darley Stud’s high-profile team of stallions to shuttle to Australia.

Aged 12, Refuse To Bend was about to stand his first season in France.

“Refuse To Bend’s death will be a significant loss for breeders and Haras du Logis and to Darley,” the bloodstock conglomerate’s director of stallions Sam Bullard said.

“He was a superb racehorse, and he had it all ahead of him as a stallion.”

Dermot Weld, who trained Media Puzzle to win the 2002 Melbourne Cup, prepared Refuse To Bend for his 2000 Guineas triumph before a sale to racing superpower Godolphin.

In paying tribute to the son of Sadler’s Wells, Weld told the UK racing publication Racing Post: “He was a horse close to my heart having won an English 2000 Guineas when he got a brilliant ride from Pat Smullen and had the race won a long way out.

“I have many happy memories of him.

“He was a very good horse. A lovely horse to train and a lovely-made horse. A proper gentleman to deal with, very honest and true.”

Under Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, Refuse To Bend enhanced his reputation as an elite racehorse with Queen Anne and Eclipse Stakes wins.

At stud, Refuse To Bend sired the champion French mare Sarafina and last season’s Prix Saint-Alary heroine Wavering was among his 15 stakes winners.

Last year’s VRC St Leger winner Right Of Refusal, Queensland Guineas placegetter Benny’s Buttons and Alma’s Fury, unbeaten in three starts as a four-year-old, are among the best of his Australian progeny.