LEGENDARY RACE HORSE Kauto Star is set to begin training for a career in dressage after leaving trainer Paul Nicholls prematurely today.
Having been officially retired from racing back in October, the two-time Gold Cup winner was expected top lead the field out at Kempton for the King George on St Stephens’ Day.
However, after news emerged that owner Clive Smith was planning to send the 12-year-old to link up with eventing rider Laura Collett after consulting expert Yogi Breisner, a clearly heartbroken Nicholls decided it was best that he departed as soon as possible.
This afternoon, Kauto Star said goodbye to his home in Ditcheat. In his column on Betfair.com, Nicholls said: ”It is with great sadness that I have to report that Kauto Star has left the yard for the last time.
It has been no secret that Kauto’s future has been a great source of debate since we announced his retirement. And, to be brutally honest, this morning I felt the time had finally come for me to take control of the situation, and to start making the decisions.
“Now, I am fully aware that Kauto is Clive’s horse and he can do as he wishes, even though I would personally have loved Clifford (Baker, head lad) to have looked after him for the rest of his years.
But what upset me and my team here is when Clive announced that he had spoken to experts about the horse’s future – but failed to consult and listen properly to the team that had looked after him here for the past nine years. That really upset us.
“So we had a team meeting here this morning. And after listening to everybody involved – there were about six of us in the meeting – I rang up Clive, said I don’t want to fall out, but we think it is in the best interests of everybody concerned to take Kauto to Yogi Breisner’s this afternoon so that he could start his new career in the eventing field as soon as possible.
“Which we did with the saddest of hearts. But I like to think with a lot of dignity, too. And, yes, there were plenty of tears too. He was a member of the family here at Ditcheat, and we will all miss him so much.”
22-year-old Collett also tweeted today: “I feel privileged and extremely honoured to have been asked to ride Kauto Star. I will be working closely with Yogi to give Kauto Star the best chance of a second career in dressage.”
