Kempton Park praise Kauto Star following news of retirement

Kauto Star with owner Clive Smith (left) and Paul Nicholls (right)

By Simon Jackson, London24’s horse racing correspondent
Thursday, November 1, 2012
8:59 AM

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Kempton Park has been quick to pay tribute to Kauto Star following news of the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner’s retirement on Wednesday.

Along with his brace of Gold Cup victories in 2007 and 2009 the Paul Nicholls trained gelding won Kempton’s showpiece race, the King George VI Chase, a record five times in a career spanning nine seasons.

The 12-year-old recorded the last of his 23 victories when landing the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day in 2011 which proved to be his penultimate start and he was pulled up when attempting a third victory in the Gold Cup in March of this year.

Brian Clifford, head of racing and clerk of the course at Kempton Park, said: “Kauto Star is just the most fabulous racehorse and everyone at our racecourse who has witnessed his feats in the King George over the years feels privileged to have been here to be part of history.

“His achievements in the King George may never be equalled. He was that good. Kempton Park will certainly miss him because spectators were so excited when they saw him on the track.

“But the good news is that Kauto’s owner Clive Smith has agreed that the superstar will be here with us again on Boxing Day on parade. We will also shortly be talking to Clive about a permanent tribute to Kauto Star at the racecourse.”