Champion galloper Mtoto has died aged 28 at Aston Upthorpe Stud in Oxford.

Mtoto (Busted) was trained by Alec Stewart for Sheikh Maktoum to win two Eclipse Stakes, two Prince of Wales’s Stakes and a King George Stakes.

Mtoto’s first two seasons barely began to show what he was capable of achieving.  He had only won a Haydock Park maiden in seven starts but developed into a champion after overcoming problems with fragile hooves.

Mtoto earned his place among the giants of the turf in 1988 defying the statistics to win a second Eclipse and emulating his sire with a decisive victory in the King George.  He gained a large following from a racing public appreciative of his consistent record and brilliant turn of foot.

“Mtoto was an inspirational racehorse and will be sadly missed,” studmaster Liam O’Rourke said.  “Perhaps his most memorable performance was in the 1988 Arc de Triomphe when he overcame a wall of horses with his incredible acceleration to be beaten only a neck by Tony Bin.”

Mtoto proved a decent stallion siring 1996 English Derby winner Shaamit, 1997 Ascot Gold Cup winner Celeric and 2008 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Serious Attitude.