Perhaps the greatest performer to emerge from Paul Nicholls’ yard in Ditcheat is Kauto Star, winner of two Cheltenham Gold Cups and five King George VI Chases.
Kauto Star: His 5 Greatest Triumphs
He was an absolute superstar of the jumping game in his career and became a darling of the racing public, not least owing to the early part of his career being characterised by a fondness for getting the final jumps in his races all wrong! Here we recall five of Kauto Star’s most memorable performances.
Kauto Star: King George VI Chase (2006)
By this point in his career Kauto Star had already bagged a pair of Tingle Creek wins around Sandown, establishing himself as top class over two-miles despite a fall when favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham the previous March.
In the winter of 2006, he won the Betfair Chase over 3m at Haydock and his second Tingle Creek at Sandown over 2m before tackling the Boxing Day showpiece at Kempton for the first time. Ruby Walsh brought him to lead at the third last and they were bossing the race when Kauto Star clattered the final fence for a major scare, but it didn’t stop them winning by eight-lengths from Exotic Dancer in second as he landed the first of his five Christmas crackers.
Kauto Star: Cheltenham Gold Cup (2007)
Just a few short months later and Kauto was favourite for the biggest prize in jumps racing, the three-and-a-quarter-mile Cheltenham Gold Cup. This was his acid test in terms of stamina and, as a two-time Tingle Creek winner, plenty pondered if he would get home. There was no need for doubt. Walsh’s partner once more put his stamp on the race coming to the second last and assumed control but, again, he had a heart-stopping moment at the final obstacle before seeing off old foe Exotic Dancer again to land the Blue Riband.
It meant he ended that season with six wins from six attempts and having landed jumps racing’s Triple Crown – the Betfair Chase, the King George and the Gold Cup – plus the £1m bonus that went with it. He was also the first horse to be officially top-rated at two miles, two and a half, and three-miles.
Kauto Star: Cheltenham Gold Cup (2009)
Kauto was dethroned by his stablemate and next door neighbour in ’08 as Denman produced a memorable Gold Cup success. They were the biggest names in National Hunt racing and their rivalry transcended the sport, so when they got ready to go again in 2009 it was a headline story. After his many final flight shenanigans, Kauto had finally managed to unseat Sam Thomas in the Betfair Chase in November 2008 before winning his third King George but here was the biggest test of his career.
Denman was the reigning champ and rated 5lb superior but Kauto was immense on this particular afternoon, never allowing The Tank to establish his dominance in front and from three out there was only one winner. Kauto Star had made more history as the first horse to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, lose it, and regain it. His feat remains unmatched.
Kauto Star: Betfair Chase (2011)
Haydock in November was a place where Kauto excelled. He ran five times in this race and bar unseating Sam Thomas at the last in ’08 he would have won them all. There was a famous tussle with Imperial Commander – also a Gold Cup winner – in 2009 but it was his final swansong at the Merseyside venue that stands out.
He’d surrendered his King George crown to Long Run the previous season and was only third as the same horse won the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Kauto was pulled up at Punchestown in May and, afterwards, many felt that Paul Nicholls should retire the now 11-year-old star. The champion trainer didn’t agree but few were predicting more Betfair Chase glory on his seasonal comeback. Ruby Walsh popped out and made all and Long Run didn’t have the answers in what was a truly heart-warming outcome for racing aficionados.
Kauto Star: King George VI Chase (2011)
A record-breaking fifth King George win in 2011 cemented Kauto’s place as the King of Kempton, surpassing the tally of Desert Orchid. It was a duel between Kauto and Long Run, Nicky Henderson’s star five years younger and a Gold Cup winner in his own right.
Even allowing for what happened a month earlier at Haydock, they were match sharp now and the Seven Barrows inmate was fully expected to have his revenge, but it wasn’t to be as Walsh and Kauto took up the running from halfway and refused to be overhauled as the front pair pulled a long way clear.
By Tom McGarry
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