One of Queensland's true racing allrounders Peter Overell has died aged 72 after a long battle with cancer.

Overell is best remembered as the owner of Danehill stallion Special Dane who he bought to win Group Ones and then stand at stud.

Special Dane won the Group One CF Orr Stakes and Group Two Sandown Guineas.

Originally trained by Darryl Gollan before going to Brian Mayfield-Smith, Special Dane has left a mark on the Queensland breeding industry through his daughter Temple Spirit, the dam of the Group One winners Temple Of Boom and Spirit Of Boom.

However, Overell had wide-ranging success as a breeder, trainer and racing administrator.

He and his late wife Ann ran Croxley Stud near Toowoomba for many years and he was vice chairman of the Toowoomba Turf Club as well as serving on the Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association board.

The Overells stood Cox Plate runner-up Prince Ruling late in his stud career.

Overell trained about 200 winners mainly on the Darling Downs and in country areas but he had city-class gallopers such as Sir Bisc and What A Tale.

In recent times he had success with multiple winners Scarlet Poet and Poetic Dragon.

His funeral is at Burstow's Chapel in Toowoomba on Friday at noon.