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After running in his native France on ten occasions Kauto Star came over to Paul Nicholls stables having been purchased by Bloodstock Agent, Anthony Bromley, for owner Clive Smith in 2004. His first appearance of the 2004/05 season was an impressive victory at Newbury before running a remarkable race when leading by a distance at Exeter, only to fall at the second last with the race at his mercy, remount and nearly catch Mistral de La Cor who had then passed him being beaten by just a short head.
That defeat caused an injury which meant that Kauto Star was put away for the next season returning once again at Exeter in The Haldon Gold Cup where he was a fine second to Monkerhostin. Next came The Tingle  Creek over two miles at Sandown Park where partnered by Mick Fitzgerald the gelding got his career back on track with a victory. Now favourite for The Champion Chase at Cheltenham, Kauto Star ended the season once again with a crashing fall in the 2 mile Championship race at The Festival and was just beginning to become a little frustrating.
His fans did not need to have worried as season 2006/07 was to become absolute perfection winning six out of six. Having been stepped up in distance to two and a half miles at Aintree in October for an impressive win, more glory soon followed as first Kauto Star proved his stamina and class by slaughtering a good field in Haydock Park’s Betfair Chase.
Then just a week later sauntering home over just two miles at Sandown for his second Tingle Creek Chase. Next a run in The King George at Kempton Park on Boxing Day where Kauto Star once again proved his was top class albeit with a couple of clumsy leaps including the last fence along the way.
February brought about a prep run at Cheltenham with a narrow victory over L’ami in the Aon Chase at Newbury, again with a last fence bloomer and so to The Cheltenham Gold Cup. Trainer Paul Nicholls remained bullish and his confidence was rewarded with a fantastic victory and no major errors as Kauto Star pounded up the Cheltenham hill to win The Cheltenham Gold Cup, The Order of Merit competition and the Betfair bonus in the climax to a remarkable season, with a delighted Clive Smith.
A Kauto Star in need of the run next emerged when on his seasonal debut in 2007/08 at Aintree in October he was narrowly beaten by the grey Monet’s Garden giving him 12 lbs in weight. A second King George followed again with ease as Ruby Walsh produced him to victory with class. This year’s prep run for The Cheltenham Gold Cup was at Ascot in February in The Ascot Gold Cup over two miles and three furlongs, where Kauto Star duly obliged only for there to be a mighty scare after the race when it emerged that the horse had sustained a foot injury. The racing public held its breath as the big clash with stable mate Denman, who himself had rattled up a string of victories over fences, looked to be in the balance but Kauto Star recovered and the match was very much on.
The 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup became of huge media interest with Denman v Kauto Star hitting the headlines everywhere. The race was a slight disappointment with Kauto Star never able to travel and jump in the testing conditions resulting in victory for Denman and a new champion was crowned. A final humiliating defeat by Our Vic at Aintree was to follow with Paul Nicholls shouldering the blame and bravely admitting that he should not have run the horse nor issued instructions to Ruby Walsh to kick on and show everyone what a true stayer the horse was.
Last season started with Kauto Star back to his best. First there was the comeback at Down Royal in Northern Ireland when he routed them over three miles before lining up at Kempton once again and providing a Christmas treat supported by a wealth of public money for three kings at Christmas. Now all roads firmly led to The Cheltenham Gold Cup with Paul Nicholls content that there was no need for a prep run and happy that if Kauto Star turned up fit and well on the day then he would take an awful lot of stopping.
Denman was also back but under a cloud having had a interrupted season and he ran a very fine race in defeat to Kauto star who had become the first horse to ever win back The Cheltenham Gold Cup crown in 2009 having lost it the year before. He was covered in glory and crowned one of the greatest we have ever seen. We look forward to seeing him next season, 2010, as he reaches his peak of ten years of age and a bid for his fourth King George and his third Cheltenham Gold Cup.
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