An emotional day for Clive Smith as he announces the possibility of Kauto Star’s retirement
Clive Smith owner of Kauto Star, told the press that the Grade 1 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase in the Cheltenham Festival was possibly the last race of the runner’s career.
He sustained an injury in that race, and did not go any further than the ninth fence before his rider Ruby Walsh decided that the gelding will not be able to complete the race.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls stated the decision regarding the twelve-year-old’s retirement, and further went on to say that it will not be decided immediately after the race, but Smith thinks that after an impressive career, the gelding should be
allowed to rest.
Smith told the press that "There will be no snap decision but I am 90 per cent sure. I will take advice but someone will have to work very hard to persuade me that we should see him out again because what I wouldn't want to happen is have a Best Mate
situation or a Dawn Run, I don't want anything like that, I'd just rather call it a day, maybe.”
Kauto Star had an ongoing rivalry with Long Run, who is trained by Nicky Henderson. The geldings went head to head a number of times and this rivalry continued into the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.
In their last meet, Kauto Star defeated the seven-year-old by 1 ¼ lengths in the Grade 1 William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on 26th December, 2011.
The son of Village Star, out of Kauto Relka, has had a brilliant career with two Gold Cup victories already in the bag.
He was victorious in the Grade 1 Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham on 16th March, 2007. The punters were proud of his victory, as he raced as a favourite with the odds of 5 to 4. He defeated Exotic Dancer by
2 ½ lengths.
His next Gold Cup victory took place on 13th March 2009. With Ruby Walsh aboard, the pair defeated, Denman, by a massive difference of 13 lengths.
It was an emotional day for Smith as he decided that his majestic runner should finally put an end to his phenomenal career.
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