Black Caviar’s ownership group – the Madden, Hawkes, Wilkie, Taylor and Werrett families – released a statement on Saturday to say they were devastated. She died a day before her birthday, August 18, when she would have turned 18.

“The ownership group would like to thank all those who cared for Black Caviar during her racing career and during her retirement, including vets Amy Duff, Joan Carrick, and the team at Scone Equine Hospital led by Troy Butt and Peter Carrigan, Mick Malone and Pauline Alix together with the whole team at North, Peter Moody and his racing team for their care through her racing career and jockey Luke Nolen for successfully guiding her to 23 of her 25 wins,” the statement said.

Black Caviar raced and won in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and England. Her crowning moment came when she famously won the 2012 group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot.

She famously wore a specially constructed pressure suit for her flights to England, with every precaution taken for her Ascot trip.

Victoria Racing Club chairman Neil Wilson said news of the death came as a shock.

“Black Caviar was more than a champion racehorse, she was an important part of life for many people,” he said. “The VRC was privileged to have Black Caviar race at Flemington and to have the Lightning Stakes named after her in 2013, a race she won three times including the first year it was named in her honour.

“She was simply the best.”

Black Caviar retired in 2013, having won $7,953,936 in prizemoney.