Kauto Star now to be recognised through the Feltham Novices’ Chase
The nine-year splendid career of Kauto Star was well rewarded and now the industry has decided to take a far reaching decision which will involve racing a name after the champion hurdler. The relentless contributions of the Paul Nicholls’ trained have been
recognised with renaming one of the most important chases after his name.
The Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton has been renamed as the Kauto Star Feltham Novices’ Steeple Chase at least this year. For this year, the name has been finalised, but the decision of letting the name remain the same has not been taken yet. The distance
and the course for the race will stay the same.
Phil White, Kempton's general manager, said: "It is an amazing legacy that Kauto Star leaves at Kempton Park, his achievements over the past six seasons are second to none and unlikely to be surpassed.
"Both William Hill and Kempton Park are honoured to mark the esteem racing fans throughout the nation hold for Kauto Star and we are especially delighted to welcome the superstar back to Kempton Park on Boxing Day this year to let his adoring public wave
him a fond farewell."
Ralph Topping, CEO for William Hill, said, "This message reaffirms our long-term commitment to one of the jewels of the National Hunt season.
For the trainer, Paul Nicholls, retiring Kauto Star, marked the end of an era. The connections resorted to retiring him in 2012 after he had accomplished way more than is possible for horses who race for even more than nine years.
He created a league of his own and then maintained it, winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice and smashing records of all sorts by racing as the victor of Grade 1 King George VI Chase for an unbelievable five times.
The Betfair Chase did not come his way less than four times.
His absence from the racing tracks cannot be filled in or replaced by anyone else, but naming a race after him will be more like stamping his greatness for decades to come and generations to know about the super star.
Last that a hurdle and chase champion got a race after his name was, Arkle. To date he is the only horse to have won the Hennessy Gold Cup twice in a row, in 1964 and then in 1965.
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