Happy for Stadivarius to claim Double Trigger’s Goodwood crown as his own

Yet the proud owner will be the first to congratulate connections of current superstar Stradivarius if he makes history today and wins a record fourth renewal of Goodwood’s celebrated race.

Trained by John Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori whose partnership is being taken to new heights by champion mare Enable, Bjorn Nielsen’s stayer is favourite after winning a third Ascot Gold Cup in scintillating style.

Huggins will be among those watching the Al Shaqab-sponsored Goodwood Cup, part of the Qicpo British Champions Series, with particular interest.

Trained at Middleham by Mark Johnston, Double Trigger won 14 out of 29 career starts, after making a breathtaking start to his career at Redcar, and a legion of fans thanks to his white blaze and a front-running racing style.

A statue to the horse, who died earlier this year at the venerable age of 29, stands at Doncaster where ‘Trigger’, as he was affectionately known, won three Doncaster Cups (1995, 1996 and 1998).

Victorious in the Ascot Gold Cup in 1995, Trigger also had a real affinity with Goodwood – a meeting that Johnson, Britain’s most successful trainer, has always targeted.

Today, Johnston saddles Nayef Road, who was a remote runner-up to Stradivarius at Ascot last month.

“I enjoy watching Stradivarius and he must have a good chance of winning a fourth Goodwood Cup,” said Huggins. “I think he’s a great horse and wouldn’t begrudge him taking the record. His connections have done a fantastic job with him.

“He’s been ultra-consistent and I thought his Gold Cup win last time, when he won by 10 lengths, was most exciting. Quite a few people have questioned what he has beaten but to see him accelerate clear like that was wonderful.

“We got the staying races going again (with Double Trigger) at a time when they had been in decline. Trigger had a fantastic following and it’s the same with Stradivarius. Nobody now questions the staying races – the public love them and it’s great that there’s been another horse who has captured the imagination.”

Double Trigger excelled everywhere but Huggins, 70, who is still involved in ownership and lives near Sherborne, believes that he reserved his best for the Sussex Downs.

He said: “When Goodwood comes around, the memories always come flooding back. I think that was his favourite track and favourite distance.

“He won the Gold Cup and was second twice in it, too, but his front-running style at Ascot was always a bit tricky. When he got beaten it was by horses finishing late and he simply didn’t have time to respond.

“I’ve never experienced anything like that after his third Goodwood Cup victory. It was like being at Cheltenham going back to the paddock that day. The whole of the stands just poured into the winner’s enclosure to greet him.

“I’ll never forget the first time he ran at Redcar having not had a gallop before. He was out the back but when Jason Weaver asked him (to quicken) he just took off and won by 10 lengths in a record time. And that was just the start of the next six seasons. Looking back, you can’t quite believe how long it went on.”

Huggins enjoyed watching his progeny race, including in his silks, right up until the last couple of years. He said: “He had a fantastic life and was a playful character from his first day to his last. If you took your eyes off him he’d nip a scarf off you in an instant. There was no meanness in him, he just liked to muck about.”

Finally, would Trigger have beaten Stradivarius at Goodwood? “I’ve often wondered that myself. Who knows?” replied Huggins. “Stradivarius is rated higher and, as everybody knows, is always so hard to beat. But Trigger was never beaten there and would always give his all.”

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