Mid-Canterbury trainer Terrill Charles has passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Charles was diagnosed five years ago with an aggressive form of brain cancer and given just four and a half months to live. Charles stubbornly refused to let cancer rule her life and together with partner Peter Corbett, who has overcome health issues of his own in recent years, built up a boutique team of thoroughbreds.

The stable was to the fore last year when lining up three runners in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton where bonny mare Dee And Gee took top honours for the couple.

There were understandably emotional scenes in the birdcage where Charles admitted it was her love of horses that had got her through despite a dim prognosis.

Dee And Gee had won the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) in 2018 for Charles and Corbett, who also won the Metropolitan with another tough mare, She's Insatiable, in 2014 before placing in the New Zealand Cup.