Ele and Gavin bred the four-year-old on their property five kilometers outside of Grenfell before he went on to win $419,850 in prize money with Edwards' friend and owner Ray Spratt and trainer Anthony Cummings at Randwick in Sydney.

Vegadaze won the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes at Rosehill just last month and won at Randwick in February after a string of wins the previous year at Rosehill and Canterbury.

Gavin said it was a sad day when he heard of the passing of the beloved gelding who had gained a cult following across the region.

"It was a very tough and emotional morning receiving that call to say he had been destroyed after breaking his leg in recovery from colic surgery," Gavin said.

"Six years ago Ele and I decided to move to the central west and start our new breeding venture.

"So to begin with breeding our first black type winner so soon gives us lots of faith in the direction we are heading here at Weddin View.

Vegadaze had been out for a spell when he fell ill with colic on Sunday morning and had to be transferred for emergency surgery.

"They operated on him last night and that all went well but he unfortunately broke his leg getting up," Cummings told racenet.com.au.

"He had a good autumn and was a promising horse so it is obviously very disappointing for everyone involved."