History making stayer Vintage Crop, winner of the 1993 Melbourne Cup, has died at the age of 27.

Vintage Crop changed the face of Australia's most famous race when he became the first European-trained winner for Irishman Dermot Weld.

The Racing Post reported Vintage Crop had died at the Irish National Stud where he lived in retirement.

He made his debut at four in a two-mile (3200m) race, winning by eight lengths.

His races were then mixed between hurdles and the flat. He earned the trip to Australia with the first of his two Irish St Leger wins.

Ridden by Mick Kinane, Vintage Crop ran past the Gai Waterhouse-trained Te Akau Nick to win the Melbourne Cup and break new ground for the Europeans who now target the race in numbers each spring.

Vintage Crop ran in the next two Melbourne Cups, finishing seventh to Jeune in 1994 and third to Doriemus in 1995, after which he was retired with a record of 16 wins from 28 starts.

He is commemorated by a life-size statue that overlooks the paddock at the famous Irish racecourse, The Curragh.