Kauto Star makes an agonising exit from the Ditcheat yard
The champion trainer, Paul Nicholls, had not recovered completely after retiring the star of his stable, Kauto Star, just when he had to also come on terms with his leaving the Ditcheat yard for an all new career at the Olympics. Right after receiving the
news, the trainer resorted to sending the horse for whom the yard had been home for no less than nine years. According to Paul Nicholls, he does not want any more remorse for his stable staff for whom it will be further challenging to look after the legend,
who will if not soon, would have eventually left.
The connections of the twelve-year-old have not taken the change of plans well, specifically the owner and the trainer, who now have friction in the terms that they had enjoyed for nearly a decade.
Both have put on a blame game now, with each defending himself for not knowing the stance of the other. The trainer, Paul Nicholls, has reservations of being informed about the uprooting of his best horse at the eleventh hour which the owner has countered
by stating that there was no delay in conveying the message from his end.
Nicholls told his Betfair column: "It is with great sadness that I have to report that Kauto Star has left the yard for the last time. It has been no secret that Kauto's future has been a great source of debate since we announced his retirement. And, to
be brutally honest, this morning I felt the time had finally come for me to take control of the situation, and to start making the decisions.”
"Now, I am fully aware that Kauto is Clive's horse and he can do as he wishes, even though I would personally have loved Clifford to have looked after him for the rest of his years.”
The ultimate decision regarding the five-time champion of the King George VI Chase always rested with Clive Smith. However, as he was never the immediate supervisor so consulting the mentoring, nurturing and training team of the star, was the right thing
to do.
The owner wants the brilliant hurdler to embark an all new career as a dressage horse. For that Clive had to consult the team who are experts for what he has in mind.
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