Kauto Star: The Legend of British Horse Racing

Who Was Kauto Star?

Kauto Star remains one of the greatest steeplechasers in the history of National Hunt racing. A French-bred Thoroughbred gelding, he won five King George VI Chases — a record that still stands — and became the first horse ever to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset and ridden primarily by Ruby Walsh, Kauto Star captivated British racing for the best part of a decade with a combination of raw talent, extraordinary versatility and sheer determination.

His career record of 23 wins from 41 starts, including 16 Grade 1 victories, places him alongside Arkle and Desert Orchid in the pantheon of jump racing legends. But it was his personality — bold, brilliant, occasionally fallible — that made him the people’s horse.

Early Life and Breeding

Kauto Star was born on 19 March 2000 in France. He was bred by Mrs Henri Aubert and sired by Village Star out of the mare Kauto Relka (by Port Etienne). A bay gelding standing 16.3 hands high and weighing approximately 520 kg, he was a physically imposing horse with scope to match.

He began his racing career in France under trainer Serge Foucher, showing early promise in hurdle races. His talent caught the eye of owner Clive Smith, who purchased him for €400,000 and transferred him to Paul Nicholls’ Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat, Somerset. It was a move that would change the landscape of British jump racing.

Nicholls immediately recognised the horse’s potential over fences. Paired with jockey Ruby Walsh — one of the finest National Hunt riders of his generation — Kauto Star’s transition from French hurdler to Grade 1 chaser was remarkably swift.

Career Record and Statistics

Kauto Star’s full career record speaks for itself:

• Starts: 41
• Wins: 23
• Seconds: 7
• Thirds: 4
• Grade 1 wins: 16
• Total prize money: Over £2.3 million
• Timeform rating: 191
• Official rating: 186 (joint highest ever for a chaser at the time)

He was the first National Hunt horse to win over £2 million in prize money, a milestone that reflected not just his longevity but his consistency at the very highest level. His win rate of 56% across his career is remarkable for any horse competing regularly in Grade 1 company.

Five King George VI Chase Victories

The King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day became Kauto Star’s race. He won it a record five times:

• 2006 — His first King George, beating Exotic Dancer by 1¾ lengths
• 2007 — A dominant display, winning by 11 lengths from Our Vic
• 2008 — Victory by 8 lengths, completing a hat-trick and equalling Desert Orchid’s record
• 2009 — The most emphatic of all, winning by a staggering 36 lengths and surpassing Desert Orchid’s long-standing record
• 2011 — His farewell King George, beating Long Run by 1¼ lengths at the age of 11 to reclaim the crown

The 2009 victory was perhaps the single greatest performance of his career. The 36-length winning margin was the largest in the race’s history, and he broke the course record in the process. It was a display of such dominance that even seasoned racing observers struggled for comparisons.

His ashes now rest beneath a bronze statue at Kempton Park — a permanent tribute to the horse who made Boxing Day his own.

Cheltenham Gold Cup: Making History

The Cheltenham Gold Cup provided Kauto Star with both his greatest triumphs and his most heart-breaking moments.

In 2007, he claimed his first Gold Cup with a commanding victory over Exotic Dancer, confirming his status as the best chaser in training. The gruelling three-mile-plus test at Cheltenham’s undulating Prestbury Park course suited his stamina and jumping ability perfectly.

The 2008 Gold Cup was a different story. Facing his stablemate Denman — the tank to Kauto Star’s sports car — he made uncharacteristic jumping errors and could only manage second. The defeat was felt keenly by his supporters, but it set the stage for one of racing’s most dramatic comebacks.

In 2009, Kauto Star made history by becoming the first horse to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He beat Denman by 13 lengths in a performance of breathtaking authority, silencing any doubts about his class. No horse before him had ever won the Gold Cup, lost it, and won it back again. The record still stands as one of the most remarkable achievements in National Hunt racing.

Kauto Star vs Denman: The Greatest Rivalry

The rivalry between Kauto Star and Denman — both trained by Paul Nicholls and stabled yards apart at Ditcheat — captivated British racing like nothing before or since. It had everything: two exceptional horses with contrasting styles, the same trainer, different owners, and a supporting cast of fiercely loyal fans.

Kauto Star was the classier, more versatile horse — fluid, athletic, brilliant when in the mood. Denman was the relentless galloper, “The Tank”, who ground his rivals into submission with his stamina and power. Their Gold Cup battles in 2008 and 2009 became the defining narrative of an era.

When Denman won the 2008 Gold Cup, Kauto Star’s supporters were devastated. When Kauto Star exacted revenge with that 13-length demolition in 2009, it felt like vindication. The rivalry elevated both horses beyond the normal confines of racing coverage and brought National Hunt racing to a mainstream audience.

Unmatched Versatility

What truly set Kauto Star apart from his contemporaries was his ability to win at the highest level across vastly different distances. He remains the only horse in history to be top-rated over two miles, two-and-a-half miles and three miles in the same season.

In November 2006, he won the three-mile Betfair Chase at Haydock by 17 lengths. Just two weeks later, he dropped back to two miles for the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown and won again. This kind of versatility — excelling at the sharpest speed tests and the most gruelling stamina assignments — is almost unheard of in jump racing.

His major victories spanned the full spectrum of National Hunt distances:

• 2 miles: Tingle Creek Chase (Sandown)
• 2½ miles: Betfair Chase (Haydock)
• 3 miles: King George VI Chase (Kempton), Cheltenham Gold Cup

Challenges and Comebacks

Kauto Star was not infallible, and his occasional mistakes at his fences were part of what made him so compelling. He could be brilliant one day and untidy the next, his courage sometimes outpacing his precision.

His 2010-11 season was supposed to be his last. After falling in the 2010 Gold Cup and appearing to have lost his edge, many experts called time on his career. But Kauto Star — and Nicholls — had other ideas.

In November 2011, he won the Betfair Chase at Haydock, beating younger rivals including Long Run. He then followed up with a fifth King George victory on Boxing Day, reclaiming the title Long Run had taken from him the previous year. At the age of 11, he was competing at — and winning at — the very highest level. It was one of the most remarkable comebacks in racing history.

Retirement and Dressage Career

Kauto Star retired from racing in October 2012 following a training injury. His final race had been a disappointing Gold Cup in March 2012, where he pulled up — but his legacy was long since secured.

In a second career that charmed the public, he transitioned to dressage under the care of eventer Laura Collett. The sight of a former Gold Cup winner learning to passage and perform half-passes was a joyful one, and Kauto Star took to his new discipline with characteristic willingness. He appeared at Horse of the Year Show and other demonstrations, proving that his athleticism extended well beyond the racecourse.

Death and Memorial

On 29 June 2015, at the age of 15, Kauto Star suffered severe injuries in a paddock accident at Laura Collett’s yard and was humanely euthanised. The news sent shockwaves through the racing world. Tributes poured in from Ruby Walsh, Paul Nicholls, Clive Smith and thousands of racing fans who felt a genuine personal connection to the horse.

His ashes were laid to rest beneath his bronze statue at Kempton Park — the course where he had produced so many of his greatest performances. The statue, unveiled in 2015, stands as a permanent reminder of the horse who made the King George his own.

Legacy and Impact

Kauto Star’s influence on National Hunt racing extends beyond his statistics. He arrived at a time when jump racing was looking for a new star to follow Desert Orchid and Best Mate, and he delivered in a way no one could have predicted.

His rivalry with Denman gave the sport its greatest storyline in a generation. His five King George victories became a Boxing Day tradition. His Gold Cup comeback wrote one of the most stirring chapters in Cheltenham history. And his willingness to take on all comers, at any distance, at any course, set a standard of courage and versatility that may never be matched.

For Paul Nicholls, Kauto Star confirmed his status as the leading National Hunt trainer of his era. For Ruby Walsh, the partnership produced some of his finest hours in the saddle. For Clive Smith, the €400,000 investment yielded over £2.3 million in prize money and memories beyond any price.

Racing fans, asked to name the greatest steeplechaser they have seen, will debate Arkle, Desert Orchid and Kauto Star for generations. What is beyond debate is that the bay gelding from France who made Somerset his home was one of the most thrilling, charismatic and talented racehorses ever to set foot on a British racecourse.