Johnston and Weaver pay tribute after legendary stayer Double Trigger dies at 29

Double Trigger, the 1995 Gold Cup winner and one of the leading stayers of his generation, has died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 29.

Trained by Mark Johnston, the chestnut endeared himself to the racing public with his front-running style and grim determination that saw him become the first three-time winner of the Goodwood Cup.

Unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile, the son of Ela-Mana-Mou won the Italian St Leger at three before a dominant five-length success in the Ascot showpiece in 1995.

Double Trigger: won three Goodwood CupsCredit: Edward Whitaker

The first of his Goodwood Cup triumphs followed in July and was followed by the first of three Doncaster Cups (1995, 1996 and 1998).

Johnston, in a tribute on his website on Monday, said: "Double Trigger died yesterday in his paddock at John and Sarah Haydon’s Clarendon Farm in Wiltshire.

"It seems that, no matter what champions I trained or might be lucky enough to train in future, I will always be remembered more for having trained Double Trigger than for anything else. He captured the public’s imagination like no other animal I have been associated with, and rightly so.

"He was purchased for just 7,200 Irish punts at Goffs Orby sales in October 1992 and he went on to win 14 races from 29 starts, amassing £559,102 in prize-money. His wins included three Goodwood Cups, three Doncaster Cups, the Ascot Gold Cup, and the Italian St.Leger. He was third in the St Leger on just his fourth career start and he also finished runner-up twice in the Ascot Gold Cup."

Jason Weaver, who rode Double Trigger on 15 of his 23 starts, including when winning the Gold Cup at Ascot, said: "Double Trigger was in the mould of a Stradivarius, Yeats and Persian Punch. He had a massive following as he was in the staying division and people get used to that type of horse being around year after year, which is something you rarely get on the Flat.

Jason Weaver and Mark Johnston after the 1995 Prix du CadranCredit: Smith Phil

"He won Cups all around the country whether it was at Doncaster, Goodwood or Ascot and everybody loved him. And he was instantly recognisable with his flaxen mane, white face and four white socks.