Kauto Star

Kauto Star
Kauto Star in April 2012 at Sandown.
Sire	Village Star
Dam	Kauto Relka
Damsire	Port Etienne
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	2000
Country	France
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Mrs Henri Aubert
Owner	Clive D. Smith
Trainer	Paul Nicholls
Record	40: 23-7-4
Earnings	£2,375,883
Major wins
Cheltenham Gold Cup (2007, 2009) King George VI Chase (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) Betfair Chase (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011) Tingle Creek Chase (2005, 2006) Old Roan Chase (2006) Aon Chase (2007) Ascot Chase (2008) JNwine.com Champion Chase (2008, 2010)
Awards
Timeform rating: 191 Betfair Million (2006/07) National Hunt Order of Merit (2006/07, 2007/08)

Kauto Star (foaled March 19, 2000) is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England.

Kauto Star holds numerous records in the sport; he was the first horse to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup and is the only horse to have won the King George VI Chase five times, as well as being the first to win it in four consecutive seasons.

Purchase

Kauto Star first came to the attention of Paul Nicholls when he saw a video of him in action at Auteuil. Nicholls was so impressed with what he saw that he sought to arrange a purchase through his bloodstock agent in France, Anthony Bromley. Nicholls arranged an owner in the shape of Clive Smith who was looking to purchase a horse and had recently had a 500,000 guineas offer for another horse (Garde Champetre) outbid by J. P. McManus. He used 400,000 euro to purchase Kauto Star from his French owners.

Early career

After a promising Hurdle career in France where he was known as 'L'Extraterrestre' which translates to 'The Extraterrestrial' Kauto Star made a successful debut in England, winning a Novice Chase at Newbury beating Foreman by 9 lengths. Unfortunately he could only finish runner-up on his next appearance in an extraordinary race at Exeter beaten by Mistral De La Cour by a short head. Kauto Star had cantered into a 12-length lead approaching the second last fence when he fell, whereupon his jockey Ruby Walsh re-mounted without his stirrups. They jumped the last and chased the leader down just failing by a short-head. After the race it was discovered that Kauto Star had sustained a fractured hock in the race, which ruled him out of the Cheltenham Festival and the rest of the season.

2005/06 season

Kauto Star started the new season with defeat over two miles and a furlong at Exeter to Monkerhostin. He improved for this run and followed up with a one and a half length defeat of Ashley Brook in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, the first of his 16 (to date) Grade One successes. This meant that Kauto Star went into the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as the 2/1 Favourite, but unfortunately for his supporters the horse fell at the third fence.

2006/07 season

Kauto Star started the following season by beating stable companion Armaturk, to whom he was conceding 9lbs, by 21 lengths in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree. Having previously been considered a two-mile specialist, Kauto Star was stepped up to three miles for the first time in his next race, where he thrashed multiple Grade One winner Beef or Salmon by 17 lengths in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park. He then went on to overcome a final fence blunder (a flaw that was to become something of a trademark) to win the second-most prestigious staying steeplechase of the season, the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park by 8 lengths, defeating Exotic Dancer. Kauto Star's success in these two races meant he was eligible for a million-pound bonus, sponsored by Betfair if he went on to win that season's Cheltenham Gold Cup. In between his two successes over three miles, Kauto Star demonstrated his versatility by dropping back to two miles to win the Tingle Creek Chase for the second year running, defeating the horse who would go on to become the 2006/07 season's Champion Chaser Voy Por Ustedes by 7 lengths. Kauto Star then had his final preparatory run before the Gold Cup in the Aon Chase at Newbury. This proved to be his least impressive win of the season, as another final fence blunder meant Kauto Star had to battle all the way to line to defeat L'Ami by a neck.

The 2007 Gold Cup

After five straight victories, Kauto Star headed into the Cheltenham Gold Cup as the ante-post favourite, amidst doubts about his jumping and his ability to stay the 3m2f of the Gold Cup distance. On the day he was sent off at odds of 5/4. Despite the concerns beforehand, Kauto Star jumped accurately, tracking the leaders in mid-division before showing an impressive turn of foot to take the lead before the second last. He made his now-customary blunder at the final fence but stayed on up the Cheltenham hill to beat old rival Exotic Dancer by 2½ lengths to confirm himself the new superstar of National Hunt racing. With victory here Kauto Star won his connections a £1 million bonus, as a result of completing the Betfair Million and was also the winner of the British Horseracing Authority's Jumps Order of Merit.

2007/08 season

Pre-season excitement

Kauto Star had an additional challenge to face during the 2007/08 as another of Paul Nicholls' horses, Denman, had easily won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, the top race for novice staying chasers, at the previous season's Cheltenham Festival when also ridden by Ruby Walsh. Nicholls stated his intention to keep the pair apart for the majority of the season, with the two horses not scheduled to race against each other until the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. There was much speculation in the early part of the season as to which of the two horses Ruby Walsh would choose to ride in the Gold Cup.

Kauto Star began the current campaign as he had the season before, in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree. He faced three rivals to whom he was giving away a minimum of 7lbs. Paul Nicholls warned beforehand that Kauto Star needed the run. In the race Kauto was beaten a length-and-a-half by 2½ mile Aintree specialist and ultimate three-time Old Roan winner Monet's Garden, to whom he was conceding a stone in weight. Next time out Kauto Star, partnered by Sam Thomas for the first time as regular jockey Ruby Walsh was out injured with a dislocated shoulder, defended his Betfair Chase crown at Haydock Park, defeating a field led by his old adversary Exotic Dancer who he beat by half a length. Paul Nicholls then chose to miss this season's Tingle Creek Chase due to its closer proximity to Kauto Star's next target, the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park. Kauto Star put in what was probably his finest performance to date, jumping impressively and galloping to an 11-length victory over subsequent multiple Grade 1 winner Our Vic.

Injury scare

The horse's final preparation for the Cheltenham Gold Cup was at Ascot in the Ascot Chase over 2 miles 5 furlongs. By this time, Ruby Walsh had announced his intention to ride Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Sam Thomas booked for Denman. Kauto Star reversed the Aintree form on level weights with Monet's Garden, recording an 8-length victory. However in the early evening, hours after the race, Kauto Star's Gold Cup odds began to lengthen on the betting exchanges, drifting until the Gold Cup betting was suspended by online bookmakers. It was then reported that Kauto Star was understood to be slightly lame. Paul Nicholls revealed that his vet had examined Kauto Star that morning and that the horse appeared to have an infection in one of his hind feet. Although not an ideal preparation for a major race, the injury and subsequent treatment did not prevent Kauto Star from lining up at Cheltenham on March 14.

The 2008 Gold Cup

Horse racing fans were eagerly awaiting this season's Gold Cup clash between Kauto Star and his stablemate Denman. Kauto Star was sent off 10/11 favourite to retain his crown with Denman starting at 9/4. Denman took up the race to lead with a circuit to go and won by 7 lengths with Kauto Star finishing second.

Final race of the season

Kauto Star narrowly lost his last race of the season to Ryanair winner Our Vic in the Totesport Bowl at Aintree. However, this second placed finish ensured he won the 2008 Order of Merit title, becoming the first and only horse to win this two seasons in succession. Kauto Star's owner Clive D. Smith put the defeat down to Kauto Star's busy season and also the short time since the Cheltenham Gold Cup, although Ruby Walsh considered the riding tactics he was asked to adopt by Paul Nicholls contributed to Kauto Star's defeat. This was the first race in England to be officially won and lost by the distance "a nose", as the new winning distance had only just been included in the Rules of Racing.

2008/09 season

After beginning his season winning the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal, Kauto Star unseated stand-in jockey Sam Thomas (Ruby Walsh being out injured with a ruptured spleen) at the final fence in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, which he had won for the previous two years. There was some doubt as to whether he would have won the race had he not blundered. Reunited with Walsh, Kauto Star went on to a third consecutive victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, equalling Wayward Lad's total of wins and behind only four-time winner Desert Orchid.

After Kauto's defeat following the short break between the races at Down Royal and Haydock, Paul Nicholls stated he had come to the conclusion that Kauto Star was best run fresh, so unlike previous seasons he would not run again before Cheltenham where he was once again being aimed at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, as was stable companion and current holder Denman. No horse had ever regained the Gold Cup after being beaten in the race.

The 2009 Gold Cup

Kauto Star won the 2009 Gold Cup with a superb display of jumping to defeat Denman by 13 lengths and become the first horse in history to regain the Cheltenham showpiece. Denman ran bravely, having suffered a heart problem earlier in the season and at one stage looking unlikely to participate in the Gold Cup but Kauto Star proved himself the best staying chaser in training with his victory.

2009/10 season

The Betfair Chase

On Saturday 21 November, Kauto Star made it a hat-trick of victories in the Betfair Chase having previously won the race in 2006 and 2007. He won by a nose from the Ryanair Chase winner Imperial Commander, who was trying three miles for the first time, and the pair thrilled the spectators with their battle up the entire length of the Haydock straight. The print from the photo finish showed Kauto Star has prevailed by millimetres.

King George VI Chase

On Boxing Day 2009 Kauto Star won his fourth consecutive King George VI Chase, equalling Desert Orchid's record of four victories but becoming the first to do so consecutively, as Desert Orchid won his four races over five years. It was the most visually impressive of all Kauto Star's victories with an official winning distance of 36 lengths, a new record in the race, breaking Arkle's 44 year old record of 30 lengths, and directly leading to the Rule change dispensing with the traditional winning distance of " a distance" which had previously been used for wins of more than 30 lengths. In winning the race, Kauto Star was awarded a Racing Post Rating of 192, the highest ever earned by a National Hunt horse. He was been given a Timeform rating of 191, the highest given to a horse for almost 40 years and making him the joint-third highest-rated steeplechaser of all time (with Mill House) and only behind 1960s legends Flyingbolt (210) and Arkle (212).

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2010

Once again sent off as short-priced favourite for the 2010 Gold Cup, Kauto Star was strongly fancied to win it for the third time. He spent the early part of the race travelling well and at the seventh fence put in a spectacular jump to go into second place. He looked to put in an equally big jump at the eighth fence before seeming to change his mind just after take off and crashed through the fence. This knocked him back to fifth place and despite getting back into contention never recovered the fluidity of earlier in the race. At the fourth-to-last fence, known as the downhill fence, and when in fifth place, Kauto Star fell awkwardly, landing on his neck. However to the relief of everyone he got to his feet, apparently unscathed. In the meantime stablemate Denman finished second to Imperial Commander who won for the Nigel Twiston-Davies team. Unusually for a non-finisher, Kauto Star was applauded by those in the grandstands as he returned to the unsaddling area, a sign of the affection in which he was now held by racegoers.

2010/2011 season

Kauto Star began his season winning the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal for the second time with a workmanlike performance, but his round of jumping was faultless. It seemed he was suffering no ill effects of his crashing fall in the Gold Cup the previous season.

King George VI Chase

His next race was an attempt to win a record-breaking fifth consecutive King George in a meeting which was rearranged for mid-January after the original Boxing Day fixture was postponed due to snow. Despite now being an 11-year-old he was once more sent off the odds-on favourite. Again Ruby Walsh was injured and multiple champion jockey AP McCoy came in for the ride for the first time. Kauto Star never travelled or jumped with his usual fluency and he looked beaten when blundering at the second last, a mistake which caused him to finish third rather than second to the winner, Long Run. It was the first time since coming to the UK that Kauto Star finished outside the first two in a completed race.

In the aftermath of the race there were calls for Kauto Star to be retired as there was a school of thought that age had caught up with the great horse at last. It was discovered he was suffering from a low grade infection and had bled during the race for the first time. Paul Nicholls announced that Kauto Star would be trained for the Gold Cup as originally planned.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Gold Cup marked the first time Kauto Star had not started favourite for a race since his first run outside novice company in November 2005. His starting price of 5/1 was also only the third time since that day he had not started at odds on. The Gold Cup would prove that trainer Paul Nicholls was correct in not retiring the great champion, as he belied his age and alongside his stablemate and old rival Denman, he put in a superb performance to finish third behind 6-year-old Long Run, the 7/2 favourite in a race that was hailed by many racing professionals as one of the best Gold Cups of all time.

Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup

Unusually, Kauto Star then ran in the Guinness Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival in May, starting as 10/11 favorite, but was pulled up for the first time in his career by Ruby Walsh, who reported after the race that the horse was 'never travelling'. Follow The Plan went on to win the race. Again, Kauto Star was applauded as he returned to the racecourse stables.

Calls for Kauto Star's retirement grew more vociferous, although connections stated their intention to bring him back into training after the summer break and assess the horse's condition before aiming him for another race if they were satisfied with his physical and mental wellbeing.

2011/12 season

Kauto Star at Sandown on 28 April 2012.

The Betfair Chase

On Saturday 19 November 2011, Kauto Star lined up for the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park, having pleased his trainer and work rider with his enthusiasm on his return to training. He started at odds of 6/1, the longest starting price of his UK career. Ridden prominently by usual partner Ruby Walsh, Kauto Star made it four victories in the race having previously won the race in 2006, 2007 and 2009. He won by eight lengths from favourite Long Run, turning the tables on his Gold Cup and King George conqueror of the previous season. In doing so, he became the only horse to win two different Grade 1 jump races four times (the other being the King George VI Chase).

Press, fans and professionals alike hailed this as one of the greatest comebacks in racing history as the 11-year-old Kauto Star had defeated the five-years-younger Long Run, the previous season's King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and the current top-rated chaser in training.

King George VI Chase

On Boxing Day 2011, Kauto Star made history by becoming the first horse to win the King George VI Chase a record five times. He once again beat Long Run, this time by a length and a quarter and prompted his normally-undemonstrative jockey Ruby Walsh to hug his neck on pulling up. He was immediately promoted to second favourite in the ante-post betting for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March 2012.

Cheltenham Gold Cup

At the end of February 2012, Paul Nicholls announced that Kauto Star had suffered an "awful fall" during a routine schooling session at his training yard, putting his participation in the Gold Cup in doubt. Intensive physiotherapy and walking exercise brought about a rapid improvement and a week before the Gold Cup, Kauto Star took part in a racecourse gallop at Wincanton which pleased connections and put him back on track for the Cheltenham showpiece event. However, in the race he was pulled-up with more than a lap remaining. While he suffered no major injuries, owner Clive Smith stated that he would most likely be retired.

Records and statistics

• Probably Kauto's most impressive statistic is his record in Grade 1 Chases. In his first six years in Britain he competed in 18 Grade 1 races over distances from 2 miles to 3¼ miles. He completed 15, winning 14, with his solitary second place coming in the 2008 Gold Cup to his stablemate Denman.

• With his 2011 Gold Cup third place, Kauto kept his record of never finishing outside the places in any of his 27 completed races in his seven seasons in Britain.

• His official rating of 193 given after his fourth King George win was the highest ever awarded to a steeplechaser.

• He's the only horse to have won the King George five times.

• He's the only horse to have ever regained the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

• He's the only horse to have ever won two separate Grade 1 (or Group 1) races over four times (Betfair Chase four times and King George VI Chase five times).

• He has won more prize money than any other National Hunt horse in the history of the sport.

• He is the only horse to win Grade 1 races in seven consecutive seasons.

• He is the only horse to have won 16 Grade 1 races in total.

• Along with Denman, he has competed at the Cheltenham festival six times in a row. This is not a record (The Dikler ran in seven consecutive Gold Cups from 1970-76), but is still an incredible achievement, especially as many French-bred National Hunt horses traditionally mature and peak at an early age (compared to UK- and Irish-bred steeplechasers) but decline quickly and at a younger comparative age also.

References

• Behind-the-Scenes at Paul Nicholls' stable with Kauto Star
• Kauto Star image gallery
• Kauto Star down but not out after Gold Cup fall

External links

• pedigreequery.com – Kauto Star's pedigree
• racingpost.com – Kauto Star's race record