Nicholls and Smith salute true champion

Kauto Star bows out as one of the greatest horses in the history of National Hunt racing.

The 12-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls and owned by Clive Smith, had been under consideration for another season of racing, but time has now been called on his career.

Nicholls said: “We have had nine superb years with the horse but, after seeing him in his work these past few weeks, we were of the opinion that the time had arrived to retire him.

“Of course, as owner, the final decision rested with Clive, but he agreed that the horse had done enough.

“Kauto looks and feels as vibrant as ever, as those who saw him at our owners’ Open Day last month would testify to. He was mad fresh that day and continues to be as alert as ever and very, very well in himself. But I suspect Kauto will be like that when he is 20 years old.

“Kauto is signing off in full health and after a season in which he proved so many people wrong by winning a fifth King George and a fourth Betfair Chase, to add to his two Cheltenham Gold Cups and Tingle Creeks.”

Kauto Star won 16 Grade One races during a magnificent career.

Although he became the first horse to reclaim the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in 2009, having firstly taken the blue riband of jumps racing in 2007, the esteemed chaser will also be fondly remembered for his startling five victories in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

He made history in December 2009 when becoming the first horse to win four consecutive renewals of the King George, but even better was to come last season.

Many believed retirement beckoned when he was pulled up in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup last May, but Kauto Star stunned the doubters with a fourth triumph on his comeback in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last November, in which he defeated Long Run, the 2011 Gold Cup hero, by eight lengths.

Nicholls and Smith then sent him back to Kempton for the King George on Boxing Day, when he produced arguably his greatest performance with an easy length-and-a-quarter defeat of old rival Long Run.

However, Kauto Star’s preparations for the 2012 Gold Cup suffered a major blow in late February after Nicholls revealed he had taken “a pretty awful fall” during a schooling session.

Connections eventually gave him the go-ahead to compete in the race, but Ruby Walsh’s partner was pulled up with a circuit remaining.

Other keynote triumphs included two wins in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, and two successes in the Champion Chase at Down Royal.

The French-bred son of Village Star made his British debut at Newbury in December 2004, when victorious in a novice chase.

He was never out of the first three when completing a race, and was rated as highly as 193 in his pomp.

“He’s had a fantastic career and it’s great that he’s been able to retire safe and sound,” said Smith.

“It’s very difficult to pick out highlights as he’s won 16 Grade Ones and every one of them has been a delight.

“His comeback in the Betfair Chase last year was a bit special. It was such an exciting day, he got such a great reception from the crowd. Then he went and won a fifth King George and you are getting to the stage where it is beyond belief.

“But it is very hard to look past Gold Cups. He won two and you can’t get away from that.”