Owner Clive Smith has admitted that famous racehorse Kauto Star is closing in on retirement.
The admission comes after the horse was pulled up at Punchestown and a decision on his future will be made later this summer. However, indications are that it is the beginning of the end.
Speaking about the options going forward, Smith said: “If he doesn't spark after a break we'll be sensible. He's been a brilliant horse, who's had a wonderful career and I'm not desperate for him to prove anything.”
That latter statement is certainly true. Kauto Star made history in 2009, managing to win the King George at Kempton for the fourth year in a row.
This achievement followed another significant one earlier in the same year when he became the first horse to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He won the race in 2007, lost it in 2008 to Denman and then won again in 2009.
Kauto Star is undoubtedly one of the all time greats, with the two achievements mentioned bedded in amongst a number of famous race wins, but the signs have been there that he is past his best.
He fell in last year’s Gold Cup and won just a single race in the 2010-11 season – a much lower number than those placing horse bets would have expected.
Racing fans and some horse betting pundits have since called for him to be retired, if for no other reason that everybody wants to remember the good times.
However, trainer Paul Nicholls isn’t completely convinced on a retirement decision as yet, but admits Kauto Star will be closely monitored in the coming weeks.
He said: “If he came back in the autumn and ran once more like that, then obviously we would retire him.”
“I want him to have nice break with Denman and review things in the autumn.”
