Kauto Star claims four top spots at Anglo–Irish awards

CHELTENHAM Gold Cup winner Kauto Star was hailed as one of the greatest chasers in recent times after claiming top honours at the second annual Anglo-Irish Jump Racing Awards in London yesterday.

The seven-year-old, who is owned by Clive Smith and trained by Paul Nicholls, claimed no less than four awards, including the coveted Horse of the Year title.

Kauto Star was also crowned champion two-mile, two-and-a-half-mile and three-mile plus chaser.

He also bagged the Racing UK Order of Merit following a season that saw him record six straight victories, over a range of distances, at six different racecourses.

British Horseracing Board chairman Paul Roy said: “This, like so many others over the 2006/07 season, was Kauto Star’s day.

“Horses like him do not come along very often, and are to be cherished. To be top-rated in every distance category is an outstanding achievement, and he was a unanimous choice as horse of the year.”

Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee Senior Steward John Moloney said: “It has been another wonderful year for National Hunt racing both in Ireland and in Britain. We are delighted to co-host this prestigious awards scheme which once again highlights the fact that when it comes to National Hunt racing in these islands there are no country barriers.

“We are all partners in this wonderful sport of ours and that is perhaps the real secret of its success.”

Mighty Man was named champion two-and-a-half mile plus hurdler for a second successive season, while Hardy Eustace and Sublimity were joint champion two-mile hurdlers. The prolific Katchit and Denman were champion novice hurdler and chaser respectively.

The formal presentations for the Order of Merit saw Kauto Star collect the £200,000 first prize, with Exotic Dancer awarded £75,000 for second with Mighty Man claiming £25,000 for third place.

Each of the amounts is split, with 75% going to the owner, 12.5% to the trainer and 12.5% to the stable team behind each horse.

Award winners

Champion novice hurdle: Katchit

Champion novice chaser: Denman

Champion two-mile hurdler: Hardy Eustace and Sublimity (joint top)

Champion two-mile chaser: Kauto Star

Champion two-and-a-half-mile plus hurdler: Mighty Man

Champion two-and-a-half-mile chaser: Kauto Star

Champion three-mile plus chaser: Kauto Star

British champion conditional: Tom O'Brien

British champion jockey: Tony McCoy

British champion trainer: Paul Nicholls

British champion owner: JP McManus

Horse of the year: Kauto Star.