Johnston wins with Rock in race named after Double Trigger

Twenty-three years ago on his racecourse debut Double Trigger won the 1m1f juvenile maiden at this meeting before going on to prove himself a top-notch stayer by landing the Ascot Gold Cup as well as three wins in both the Doncaster and Goodwood Cups.

He was owned - and indeed is still owned - by Ron Huggins who came back to the Cleveland track to watch his Jukebox Jive try to win the race named in honour of his fine stayer. Sadly he didn't, he finished a rather disappointing sixth of eight, and it was Mark Johnston, who trained Double Trigger, who triumphed with Sofia's Rock, who made all the running under Paul Mulrennan and drew right away to beat Godolphin's 4-6 shot Alqamar by seven lengths.

A son of Rock Of Gibraltar who was bought for €100,000 as a yearling, the winner was having his fourth run having been in the frame on his three previous starts. The step up in trip was clearly the key to the improved performance and Deirdre Johnston, who was representing her husband, said: "The further he went the better he went. He has grown a lot and he is going to be a nice horse next year."