Kauto Star (foaled March 19, 2000) is a French bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in England.
After a successful beginning to his jumping career in France, Kauto Star (pronounced "Kaw-toe") has had an extremely successful career in England. In the 2005/06 season he won the Tingle Creek Chase and was favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase but fell early in the race. The 2006/07 season proved even more successful for him, having already won three Grade 1 events (the Betfair Chase, the Tingle Creek Chase and the King George VI Chase), before winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup ridden by Ruby Walsh in 2007. After winning 6 consecutive races he suffered defeat at the hands of Monet's Garden in the Old Roan Chase going down by just over a length when giving the winner a stone in weight. Since that defeat at Aintree Kauto Star has gone on to defend the first two legs of the Betfair Million he won last season winning both the Betfair Chase and the King George VI Chase the later in an emphatic manner by 11 lengths.
His outstanding displays this year have him now holding the highest official rating for a staying chaser since the late, great Desert Orchid (the retired Moscow Flyer had a higher official rating than Kauto Star). The Racing Post rated his win in the Betfair Chase at 184 which was their highest National Hunt rating since Carvill's Hill win in the 1991 Welsh National. Previously known as an outstanding 2 miler, his versatility was displayed in the 2006-07 season with top class displays over both 2 1/2 miles and 3 miles, as well as stepping back down to his old 2 mile trip and beating the very best around with ease. He is the first winner of the Gold Cup since Desert Orchid to have previously run in one of the other three Grade 1 Championship races at the Cheltenham Festival (Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and World Hurdle). Dorans Pride in 1995 and 1998 and Dawn Run in 1984 and 1986 were the previous horses to be favourite for more than one of these championship races.
His class is not in doubt, however there is a question mark over his jumping. On more than one occasion in the 2006-07 season he made serious errors at vital stages in races, although he always galvanised himself to win. Only once, at the Aon Chase at Newbury, was victory ever in any serious doubt.
His undoubted class, coupled with the apparent 'chink in his armour' (the Racing Post has nicknamed him the "White Knuckle Ride" due to the tension he causes in his supporters) made the 2007 Gold Cup one of the most eagerly anticipated renewals for many years.
Kauto Star won his connections a £1m bonus prize from Betfair for winning the Betfair Chase, King George and Gold Cup in the same season.
He won the 2007 King George VI cup by a very impressive 11 lengths, leaving his old rival Exotic Dancer to be ridden to the line to get third place. He had stopped blowing by the time he was out of the chute after the race at Kempton. He is stabled beside Denman who is said to be his biggest challenge in the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup, but Denman will have to progress a lot to beat him. The 2008 Gold Cup is much anticipated among National Hunt enthusiasts.