Kauto Star takes with him the glitz and spark of a spectacular career
Writing in his Betfair column, Nicholls said: "The end of an era has finally arrived. Clive was here this morning and we have taken the decision to retire Kauto Star.”
"We have had nine superb years with the horse but, after seeing him in his work these past few weeks, myself, Clifford [Baker, head lad] and Dan [Skelton, assistant trainer] 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.”
The legend of steeplechase, Kauto Star, accomplished much and more in the span of the nine-year career which normally is not possible for even those who extend on the racing tenure beyond nine-year.
Winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice and winning the King George for a record smashing five times would be a distant dream for a horse to accomplish.
He is no less than Frankel of steeplechase and hurdle racing. The age and experience of course are on altogether different line, with Kauto Star winning twenty-three races out of which sixteen were Group 1 events.
Suggestions for retiring him had come in to the trainer, Paul Nicholls, and the owner, Clive Smith before, but racing Kauto Star for another season proved out to be a wise and lucrative decision.
He won the Betfair Chase from Long Run, it is a race that he won four times, and then moved on with success at Kempton in the King George. One of his most influential record breaking was winning the King George five times. Before him it was Desert Orchid who had taken the record to four.
With the kick start of the national hunt season, the connections finally declared their wonder bay gelding as officially retired just when the bidding for his third Gold Cup in March had spurted out.
The connections feel fair and content at retiring the package of relentless energy with dignity and grace.
"Don't get me wrong, Kauto looks and feels as vibrant as ever, as those who saw him at our owners' Open Day last month would testify to."
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