Photograph: www.goldcircle.co.za

South African champion WILD ONE has died after complications following surgery. The gelding, who was recently crowned the country's champion stayer, was 6 at the time of his death.

Bred by the Scott Bros, the Sean Phillips-owned Wild One cost R95,000 (US$7,060) as a yearling but would go on to earn over R2.1 million (US$157,132).

Originally trained by Jeff Freedman before being moved to champion trainer Mike de Kock in May of 2014, Wild One raced from ages 3 to 6, with his four wins including two at group level.

He scored the biggest win of his career when landing the group I eLan Property Group Gold Cup earlier this year in what turned out to be his final racetrack appearance. Wild One's previous wins also included the group III Lonsdale Stirrup Cup last year. He also he placed in six other group races, including a second in the 2014 Gold Cup and third in the South African Derby (SAf-I).

One of four group I winners for his sire Mogok (a Storm Cat half brother to Machiavellian), Wild One was producced from the two-time winning Sapieha mare Endangered Species.

[www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing]