Top-class racehorse and stallion Mtoto has died at the age of 28.

Trained by the late Alec Stewart for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, Mtoto won eight races including the Eclipse Stakes twice, the Prince of Wales's Stakes twice and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. From a South African perspective, Jockey Michael "Muis" Roberts counts Mtoto as one of the bes he had ridden and struck up an uncanny relationship with this horse during their times together.

Mtoto is perhaps best remembered for his narrow defeat in the 1988 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, where he encountered traffic problems before flashing home to get to within a neck of Tony Bin.

Mtoto retired to Aston Upthorpe Stud in 1989 and spent the next 17 years as a stallion in a career where he sired the Derby winner Shaamit and the Ascot Gold Cup hero Celeric.

Another son, Presenting, has become the top-class National Hunt sire in Britain and Ireland, making Mtoto a grandsire of two Cheltenham Gold Cup winners - Denman and War Of Attrition - and this season's Grand National hero, Ballabriggs.

Liam O'Rourke, stud director at Dalham Hall, said: "Mtoto was an exceptional racehorse and he won some of Britain's most famous races.

"Perhaps his most memorable performance was in the 1988 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe where he overcame a wall of horses with his incredible acceleration to be beaten only a neck.

"Mtoto was an inspiration to many - from racing professionals and the public to the staff at Aston Upthorpe where he will be sadly missed." - edited Sporting Life

Race record from Racing Post