Kauto Star, The Paul Nicholls Chaser Who Dominated the King George and Cheltenham Gold Cup
Kauto Star was one of the most accomplished steeplechasers of the modern era, best known for his five King George VI Chase wins and two Cheltenham Gold Cups, as well as his remarkable longevity at the top level.
He was a French-bred gelding, foaled in 2000, by Village Star out of the mare Kauto Relka. He began his career over jumps in France, showing enough promise for connections in Britain to take notice.
He was bought by Clive Smith and sent to Paul Nicholls in Somerset in 2004, where he would remain for the rest of his racing career.
Under Nicholls he developed from a smart French recruit into the stable’s flagship chaser, with a programme built around the top staying and middle distance chases in Britain.
Rise to the Top
Kauto Star’s breakthrough in Britain came over fences, where his blend of cruising speed and stamina quickly made him a natural for Grade 1 conditions chases.
He progressed through novice company into open Grade 1 races, winning the Tingle Creek in December 2005.
His regular jockey was Ruby Walsh, whose patient but confident style suited Kauto Star’s way of racing.
Together they formed one of the most recognisable partnerships in National Hunt racing, repeatedly targeting the same top races season after season.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Record
Kauto Star is most closely associated with the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which he won twice, in 2007 and 2009.
In 2007 he came into the race as the leading staying chaser of the season, having already collected key trials including the Betfair Chase at Haydock, the Tingle Creek at Sandown before winning the King George at Kempton and the Aon Chase at newbury.
He travelled strongly in the Gold Cup and saw out the extended three and a quarter miles, beating Jonjo O’Neill’s Exotic Dancer, confirming himself as the outstanding staying chaser in training.
In 2008 he attempted to defend his crown but was beaten by stablemate Denman, who produced a relentless front running performance.
That reversal set up one of the most discussed storylines in modern Cheltenham history, with the “Kauto versus Denman” narrative shaping jump racing coverage for years.
Kauto Star returned in 2009 and regained the Gold Cup, reversing the 2008 form with Denman. That made him the first horse to regain the Gold Cup after losing it, an achievement that underlined both his class and his ability to return to a peak after defeat.
He was back again in 2010, but it was not to be. He fell four out in a race that was won by Imperial Commander from Nigel Twiston-Davies.
His 2011 run was slightly better when he finished in third place, and quite fittingly, his last run, before he retired, was the 2012 Gold Cup won by Synchronised.
King George VI Domination
If Cheltenham provided Kauto Star’s most significant single achievement, Kempton Park supplied the body of work that defines his record.
He won the King George VI Chase at Kempton five times, in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and again in 2011.
The King George’s mid-winter timing and three-mile distance suited him, and Nicholls used it as a central target each season. His fifth win in the race at the age of eleven was particularly notable, as it came after many had assumed his best days were behind him.
Taken together, his King George record and his Gold Cup wins place him among the most successful staying chasers in statistics as well as reputation.
Very few horses have managed to be a force at that level across so many seasons.
Rivalries
The rivalry with Denman is central to Kauto Star’s story. Both were trained by Nicholls and often followed different routes through the season before meeting in the Gold Cup.
Denman’s more relentless galloping style contrasted with Kauto Star’s speed, and their clashes gave jump racing a clear focal point in the late 2000s.
Other notable opponents included Imperial Commander, Long Run and younger chasers who came through as Kauto Star aged.
His later career involved facing new generations of staying chasers and, on occasion, defying age and expectations to beat them.
Overall Record and Ratings
Across his career, Kauto Star accumulated 16 Grade 1 victories, with 19 chase wins and four hurdle wins. Official ratings placed him among the top staying chasers of all time, with peak figures in the 190s.
He earned well over £2.3 million in prize money, reflecting the value of the races he contested and the consistency with which he ran in the first three.
The combination of multiple King George wins, two Gold Cups and repeated success in other major chases gave him a record that is both deep and varied.
Retirement and Legacy
Kauto Star was retired from racing in 2012. After racing, he was retrained for dressage and other equestrian disciplines, showing enough adaptability to compete in a very different setting.
His post-racing career attracted media attention because it highlighted the possibilities for ex-racehorses beyond the track.
He died in 2015 following an accident when he fell in the paddock. He received intensive medical treatment, but the multiple injuries, including a fracture to the spine that made it impossible for him to stand, ultimately meant that he had to be euthanised.
The reaction from racing fans, professionals and media underlined the impact he had made across more than a decade at the top.
Kauto Star’s legacy rests on measurable achievements. Two Cheltenham Gold Cups, five King George VI Chases and repeated high level successes across several seasons created a record that stands up to scrutiny in any discussion of great staying chasers.
For fans of Cheltenham in particular, his ability to regain the Gold Cup after losing it ensured that his name remains tightly linked to the race’s modern history.
