Kauto Star

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Kauto Star
sire = Village Star
dam = Kauto Relka
damsire = Port Etienne
sex = Gelding
foaled = 2000
country = France flagicon|France
colour = Bay
owner = Clive D Smith
trainer = Paul Nicholls
record = 20: 12-5-2
earnings = ₤3,262,878
race = Cheltenham Gold Cup (2007)
King George VI Chase (2006, 2007)
Betfair Chase (2006, 2007)
Tingle Creek Chase (2005, 2006)
Old Roan Chase (2006)
Aon Chase (2007)
Ascot Chase (2008)

awards=
Betfair Million (2006/07)
National Hunt Order of Merit (2006/07, 2007/08)

Kauto Star (foaled March 19, 2000) is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in England.

There has always been confusion about the pronunciation of his name. Owner Clive Smith has stated previously that the horse is called Kaw-to Star not Kay-to Star, as was originally used by pundits and punters alike.

Purchase

Kauto Star first came to the attention of Paul Nicholls when he saw a video of him in action at Auteuil. Nicholls was so impressed with what he saw that he sought to arrange a purchase through his bloodstock agent in France, Anthony Bromley. Nicholls arranged an owner in the shape of Clive Smith who was looking to purchase a horse and had recently had a 500,000 guineas offer for another horse (Garde Champetre) outbid by JP McManus. He used 400,000 euros to purchase Kauto Star from his French owners.

Early career

After a promising start to his career in France, Kauto Star made a successful debut in England, winning a Novice Chase at Newbury beating Foreman by 9 lengths. Unfortunately he could only finish runner-up on his next appearance in an extraordinary race at Exeter beaten by Mistral De La Cour by a short head, Kauto Star had cantered into a 12-length lead approaching the second last fence when he fell, his jockey Ruby Walsh was able to re-mount the horse jump the last and chase the leader down, another two strides and he would have got up to win. Sadly he picked up an injury in the race, which ruled him out of both the Cheltenham Festival and the rest of the season.

2005/06 Season

Kauto Star started the new season with defeat over two miles and a furlong at Exeter to Monkerhostin. He followed this up though with an excellent one and a half length defeat of Ashley Brook in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, the first of his numerous Grade One successes. This meant that Kauto Star came into the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as the 2/1 Favourite, unfortunately for his supporters the horse fell at only the third fence.

2006/07 Season

Kauto Star came into the new season with high hopes and expectations. He didn't let any one down on his seasonal reappearance destroying Armaturk by 21 lengths in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree. Over the next six weeks Kauto Star confirmed himself as the leading chaser in training, completing the first two legs of the Betfair Million thrashing multiple Grade One winner Beef or Salmon by 17 lengths in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and then overcoming a final fence blunder to win the King George VI Chase at Kempton by 8 lengths defeating Exotic Dancer. In between these two excellent successes over 3 miles, he was able to show his fantastic versatility by dropping back to 2 miles to win the Tingle Creek Chase for the second year running defeating the 2006/07 season Champion Chaser Voy Por Ustedes by 7 lengths. Kauto Star then had his final prep run before Cheltenham Gold Cup in the Aon Chase at Newbury, another final fence blunder meant Kauto Star had to battle all the way to line to defeat L'ami by a neck, although he never looked like being passed. These final fence blunders earnt Kauto Star the nickname of the 'White Knuckle Ride' because of the tension he causes his supporters.

The 2007 Gold Cup

After 5 straight victories, Kauto Star then headed into the Cheltenham Gold Cup as a very warm favourite, although some punters were still unconvinced, feeling that Cheltenham's stern fences would find out Kauto Star's jumping. On the day he was sent off as the very short priced 5/4 favourite. Despite the concerns beforehand about Kauto's jumping he put in an immaculate round of fences, tracking the leaders in mid-division, before cruising into the lead before the second last, he then jumped the final fence to the roars of the Cheltenham crowd seeing off old rival Exotic Dancer by 2 and a half lengths to confirm himself the new superstar of National Hunt racing. With victory here Kauto Star won his connections a £1 million bonus, as a result of completing the Betfair Million and was also the winner of the National Hunt Order of Merit.

2007/08 Season

Pre-season excitement

Punters were extremely excited ahead of the 2007/08 season as a fantsatic showdown loomed between Kauto Star and another of Paul Nicholls' horses Denman, winner of last seasons Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the top race for novice staying chasers. Nicholls vowed to keep the pair apart for the season, culminating in a mouth watering potential showdown in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Kauto Star began the current campaign as he had the season before in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree he faced just 3 rivals giving weight away all round, commentators and pundits stated before hand that Kauto Star didn't look right in his coat in the parade ring and his trainer Paul Nicholls stated he wouldn't be surprised if the horse got beat, as he needed the run. Kauto ran very uncharacteristically receiving reminders from Ruby Walsh a long way from home and was beaten a length by Monet's Garden, giving the winner a stone in weight. His trainer proved to be right though as Kauto Star, parterned by Sam Thomas on this occasion as regular jockey Ruby Walsh was out injured with a dislocated shoulder, defended his Betfair Chase crown at Haydock Park, defeating a decent field, led by his old adversary Exotic Dancer who he saw off by half a length. Paul Nicholls then choose to miss this season's Tingle Creek Chase due to its closer proximity to Kauto Star's next target the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park this season. This proved another astute performance from the horse's trainer as Kauto Star put in what was possibly his finest performance yet, cruising into an easy lead rounding the bend to the home straight, Kauto eased to an 11-length victory over Our Vic.

Injury Scare

The horse's final preparation for the Gold Cup was to be at Ascot in the Ascot Chase over 2 miles 5 furlongs. Kauto Star easily reversed the form on level weights with Aintree conqueror Monet's Garden cruising to an 8-length victory. The real drama came in the hours after the race, in the early evening, Kauto Star's Gold Cup odds began to mysteriously lengthen on the Betting Exchanges, drifting dramatically before Gold Cup betting was suspended by online bookmakers. It was then reported that Kauto Star was believed to have been found lame in the back end and that he was injured and set to miss the Cheltenham Gold Cup. A statement the following day from Paul Nicholls revealed that the vet had examined Kauto that morning and found him to have an infection in one of his hind hoofs, the injury wasn't as serious as first thought and after a couple of days rest the horse would be fit and well, ready to line up at Cheltenham on March 14th.

The 2008 Gold Cup

Horse racing fans were eagerly awaiting this season's Gold Cup clash between Kauto Star and his stablemate Denman. Kauto was odds on favourite to retain his crown, although many anticipated an enthralling and very close race. Fears over Kauto Star's ability to complete the race with a slight knee injury were brought to the attention of many bookies. However, he was sent off at 10-11 favourite to retain his crown with Denman drifting on the day to 9-4. The race, though was an entirely different matter with Kauto Star looking off the pace and jumping a little poorly. Denman romped home to win by seven lengths with Kauto Star just battling to second place over Neptune Collonges.

It is generally thought that despite Denman's huge victory Kauto Star still remains in the wider eye the better horse and that the surprise length of defeat was largely down to the conditions, with soft ground caused by heavy rain. The two horses are largely expected to be kept apart in the 2008/2009 season running similar schedules as in the 2007/2008 season and will once again go head-to-head at Cheltenham. Better ground may see Kauto Star once again start as favourite.

Despite many of Kauto Star's staunchest supporters among the racing press believing he did not show his best form at Cheltenham, bookmakers still make Denman a strong favourite to retain his crown by seeing off Kauto once more.

However, Denman's ante-post odds drifted a touch after Paul Nicholls reported the horse had been suffering from an irregular heartbeat and would not be ready in time to take his place in the 2008 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup field at Newbury. Despite this scare, bookmakers still make Denman the shorter-priced of the pair for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March.

Links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/articles/2007/12/05/paul_nicholls_feature.shtml Behind-the-Scenes at Paul Nicholls' stable with Kauto Star]

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/image_galleries/paul_nicholls_stables_gallery.shtml Kauto Star image gallery]