Kauto Star leaves the equine battlefield that is steeplechasing as one of the greats of the sport and some of racing's top names have paid tribute.
Kauto Star and Denman inspire memories of Arkle and Mill House
Kauto Star leaves the equine battlefield that is steeplechasing as one of the greats of the sport.
Two Cheltenham Gold Cups, five King George VI Chases and four Betfair Chases among 16 Grade One successes from two miles to three and a quarter miles is a record second to none.
His achievements in a career lasting an incredible almost nine years is testament to the horse's soundness, talent and enthusiasm.
He retires thankfully in one piece, although jumping did not see him at his best when running in the Gold Cup for the sixth successive time in March, with a schooling fall while being prepared for National Hunt racing's equivalent of the Olympics looking to have left its mark on the day.
However, the French-bred ace can without question sit proudly as a racing institution, a legend of the winter game.
And he can, without much debate, be mentioned in the same breath as the legend that is Arkle.
And like the immortal 'Himself' from the 1960s, Kauto Star will long be remembered by those who truly love their jumps racing.
Some might try to argue Kauto Star cannot be assessed as highly as Golden Miller, Arkle or even Desert Orchid because he never contested handicaps, giving masses of weight all round.
But he achieved other things they did not as his record shows and in winning the top races he defeated other top-notch performers.
History Maker
One of his best performances was when he became the first horse in history to regain the Gold Cup in 2009 as he slammed by 13 lengths his stablemate and next-door neighbour Denman, who won two Hennessy Gold Cups at Newbury under a big weight.
He also clearly outpointed Sizing Europe in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal in November 2010 and that horse went on to glory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase the following March.
Arkle has been the undisputed number one of steeplechasing since he graced the scene, but Kauto Star deserves the closest inspection.
Several times he was written off but he came back better ever, especially this season.
Racing pundit John McCririck is one of the lucky ones who can recall those halcyon days when Arkle ruled the roost.
"Kauto Star will go down in history as one of the great steeplechasers, no question. He's not an Arkle, but we will never know," he said.
"One of the difficulties we've got is that all sports, because of the physical regimes and the feeding and all those kinds of things, have improved.
"For all of us who ever saw Arkle he was the one, but Kauto Star doesn't come far behind."
Best We've Seen
And McCririck believes the main reason we can have an accurate assessment of Kauto Star's ability is because of his rivalry with Denman.
"If Denman hadn't been there, Kauto Star would almost be in the Best Mate category - Best Mate wins but doesn't beat much is what you could argue," he added.
"I always compare Arkle and Mill House with Denman and Kauto Star.
"It's very similar. You had the powerhouse Denman like Mill House charging off in front, and the thrust and the speed of Kauto Star just like Arkle.
"I won't compare Kauto Star with him, as Arkle was the best we've ever seen.
"But there is the similarity, and racing, like all sports, needs the rivalries. Kauto Star and Denman had that and they lived next door to each other.
"I think Kauto Star was the elegant toff and Denman the streetfighter. You can imagine what they said to each other. It is extraordinary.
"Racing needed the Kauto Star-Denman rivalry just as it did with Arkle and Mill House in the early 1960s. Both came at the right time.
"He won four Betfair Chases at Haydock and they are putting up a statue in his honour. That's the kind of horse he is.
"His last win there was amazing. Paul Nicholls said it was the greatest day of his training career and just think of all the races he's won.
"To bring Kauto Star back like that was tremendous."
Special Horse
Jockey Sam Thomas, who won the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard Denman, partnered Kauto Star to glory in the 2007 Betfair Chase at Haydock.
He said: "I was lucky enough to ride him and win on him and he has been a very special horse.
"He did an enormous amount to raise the profile of National Hunt racing and I think enormous credit has to go to Paul Nicholls for producing to win all those big races on the big days.
"To win two Gold Cups, Tingle Creeks and five King Georges is incredible and he might not have done that had he been trained by anyone else.
"It's a shame we won't see him run again but at least he will be able to enjoy his retirement with his old friend Denman.
"I think Kauto's record will struggle to be beaten in my generation and now he's retired, along with Denman, it's the end of an era.
"The battles between the two of them were a big part of my career and part of my life that I'll never forget.
"Kauto was a wonder horse and we might not see the likes of him and Denman again."
Incredible Performances
Mick Fitzgerald partnered Kauto Star just once but he was lucky enough to be aboard when the Village Star gelding won his first Grade One in the 2005 Tingle Creek.
He said: "He's just been an amazing horse.
"It was a pleasure to be asked to ride him in the Tingle Creek and a treat to do so.
"I actually went down to Ditcheat last week to do a piece for At The Races and I saw Kauto and he looked absolutely fantastic.
"It's great news he's been retired as he can now go and enjoy the rest of his life.
"He's produced some incredible performances. Haydock last year was fantastic and all you had to do was look at Paul Nicholls after the race and you could see what the horse meant to him.
"I think Paul has done an absolutely incredible job with the horse. He's an amazing trainer and he deserves a huge amount of credit.
"You'd have to say Kauto Star is right up there with the best (there's ever been).
"To win two Tingle Creeks, two Gold Cups and five King Georges says everything you need to know. He's been an amazing, amazing horse."
Quite Outstanding
Bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley was the man responsible for bringing Kauto Star over from France in 2004.
He said: "Kauto Star has been a very special horse to so many people.
"He has certainly helped my career enormously and I'm so pleased Clive and Paul have retired him fine and well.
"He was racing a lot in France before I saw him. He always had that look about him and knew he was a good horse.
"I remember when we went over for his vet's examination and he just oozed class then.
"He never lost that and knew he was better than everything else.
"The season when he won the Tingle Creek over two miles, the King George, the Betfair and the Gold Cup was just phenomenal.
"His versatility at different distances and what he achieved and his longevity - he rewrote the record books.
"To be at the top for eight seasons is a real testament to Paul and the team at Ditcheat.
"It's quite outstanding what they have done with the horse."
Exceptional Chaser
Perennial champion jockey Tony McCoy partnered Kauto Star just once, but told
Racing UK: "He's the best horse that I've seen.
"He's been unbelievably well handled by Paul Nicholls. It's great he's going out in one piece - he was an exceptional chaser."
The British Horseracing Authority also paid tribute to the French-bred chaser.
A statement read: "BHA salutes the retirement of the great Kauto Star, the horse of a lifetime.
"Kauto achieved the highest BHA rating in 13 years of the Anglo-Irish classifications with his 190 in the King George VI Chase in 2009."
Robert Waley-Cohen is chairman at Cheltenham, as well as being the owner of Long Run, winner of the Gold Cup in 2011 and twice beaten by Kauto Star in last season's Betfair Chase and King George.
He said: "Kauto Star has been an outstanding racehorse and indisputably the greatest steeplechaser for close on the last 50 years.
"He's been tremendously versatile and very talented. I wish him a very happy retirement."
