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Paul Nicholls: "We will do what is best for Kauto"

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Much has been written and said about Kauto following last Saturday's third-place finish in the King George but talk of retirement is premature, says Paul Nicholls

Some of you would have seen my interview with Nick Luck on RUK at Newbury on Wednesday, when I like to think that I got my point across to those who think Kauto Star should be retired after his run in the King George.

Because I honestly think that I have read and heard some of the biggest rubbish this past week from people who don't know the horse.

I know by writing this article I may come across to some as defensive, when I have nothing at all to defend, but I think it has to be said.

No-one knows Kauto better than me and my team here at Ditcheat, and we all thought he had never been better going into the race.

So, yes, it was very disappointing that he didn't travel with any of his normal verve, and jump with his usual zest, at Kempton. But he didn't run badly and there have been a couple of possible reasons come to light for his below par performance, namely his small bleed and his mild infection.

He has been on antibiotics this week, and has had physiotherapy and massages, too.

So, we now have a challenge with the horse.

We love the horse and know what is right for him, and all this talk of retirement just puts unwanted pressure on us. We don't need it.

But this is a racehorse who loves his routine; you should see him at home. In fact, with our regular video updates on the site of his fast work and schooling, you now do.

And as long as he continues to love and thrive in his training and run well, then he will continue to race. If he doesn't, then we will talk retirement.

And as for people saying that he should sidestep Cheltenham and wait for next season, now I really have heard it all; after all, he has only won just the two Gold Cups there.

Yes, he may not be the horse he was two or three years ago, but is Denman?

I understand that Kauto, like Denman, is now a public horse - it was superb to hear him cheered in, then cheered out of the Kempton paddock - and the public have formed a special bond with him. They feel like they own a part of the horse, along with Clive, and that is great.

But they also want to see him race, and people can't have it both ways.

They can't bemoan the fact that the top horses are not seen out often enough, then ask for the likes of Kauto to be retired in the next breath after one disappointing run, where he would have been second in a King George but for his bad mistake.

Denman has been written off twice before finishing second in the last two Gold Cups, but it was he who got the biggest cheer when he came in after finishing third in the Hennessy in November.

And remember Kauto has bounced back from poor runs in the past before to win big races, too.

The Aon, where he only beat L'Ami a neck, The Old Roan and The Betfair Chase, where he would have been all out to beat Snoopy Loopy had he not unseated at the last. Three runs when he was some way below his best.

But what did he do on his next start after those runs? He won the Gold Cup, Betfair Chase and King George.

Yes, he has more miles on the clock at 11 now, and may not be as good as he was at his brilliant best. But Monet's Garden was 12 when he won the Betfair Ascot Chase last year, having been tailed off at the course on his previous start, and See More Business ran in the Gold Cup for me as a 13yo.

I always try and do what is best for my horses, for racing and the racing public, and always will do. But it is almost as if some people want Kauto to fail at Cheltenham, so they can say "I told you so".

It really isn't appreciated, however well intentioned some of the comments may have been.

Trust me, we will do what is best for the horse, as we have always done.

Read Paul's thoughts on the form of his stable.

Ever wanted a share in a Paul Nicholls horse? This Sunday night Paul is playing at Betfair Poker and you can play against him. The winner of this tournament lands a 5% share in Indian Daudaie for the season. Other prizes include stable visits and much more. Click here to find out more.

Paul Nicholls / 21 Jan 2011

Paul Nicholls: "We will do what is best for Kauto"

The Team RSS / / 21 January 2011 / 7

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Kauto still enjoys the routine and there are solid reasons behind his failure to win a fifth King George

Kauto still enjoys the routine and there are solid reasons behind his failure to win a fifth King George

"As long as Kauto continues to love and thrive in his training and run well, then he will continue to race. If he doesn’t, then we will talk retirement."

Much has been written and said about Kauto following last Saturday's third-place finish in the King George but talk of retirement is premature, says Paul Nicholls

Some of you would have seen my interview with Nick Luck on RUK at Newbury on Wednesday, when I like to think that I got my point across to those who think Kauto Star should be retired after his run in the King George.

Because I honestly think that I have read and heard some of the biggest rubbish this past week from people who don't know the horse.

I know by writing this article I may come across to some as defensive, when I have nothing at all to defend, but I think it has to be said.

No-one knows Kauto better than me and my team here at Ditcheat, and we all thought he had never been better going into the race.

So, yes, it was very disappointing that he didn't travel with any of his normal verve, and jump with his usual zest, at Kempton. But he didn't run badly and there have been a couple of possible reasons come to light for his below par performance, namely his small bleed and his mild infection.

He has been on antibiotics this week, and has had physiotherapy and massages, too.

So, we now have a challenge with the horse.

We love the horse and know what is right for him, and all this talk of retirement just puts unwanted pressure on us. We don't need it.

But this is a racehorse who loves his routine; you should see him at home. In fact, with our regular video updates on the site of his fast work and schooling, you now do.

And as long as he continues to love and thrive in his training and run well, then he will continue to race. If he doesn't, then we will talk retirement.

And as for people saying that he should sidestep Cheltenham and wait for next season, now I really have heard it all; after all, he has only won just the two Gold Cups there.

Yes, he may not be the horse he was two or three years ago, but is Denman?

I understand that Kauto, like Denman, is now a public horse - it was superb to hear him cheered in, then cheered out of the Kempton paddock - and the public have formed a special bond with him. They feel like they own a part of the horse, along with Clive, and that is great.

But they also want to see him race, and people can't have it both ways.

They can't bemoan the fact that the top horses are not seen out often enough, then ask for the likes of Kauto to be retired in the next breath after one disappointing run, where he would have been second in a King George but for his bad mistake.

Denman has been written off twice before finishing second in the last two Gold Cups, but it was he who got the biggest cheer when he came in after finishing third in the Hennessy in November.

And remember Kauto has bounced back from poor runs in the past before to win big races, too.

The Aon, where he only beat L'Ami a neck, The Old Roan and The Betfair Chase, where he would have been all out to beat Snoopy Loopy had he not unseated at the last. Three runs when he was some way below his best.

But what did he do on his next start after those runs? He won the Gold Cup, Betfair Chase and King George.

Yes, he has more miles on the clock at 11 now, and may not be as good as he was at his brilliant best. But Monet's Garden was 12 when he won the Betfair Ascot Chase last year, having been tailed off at the course on his previous start, and See More Business ran in the Gold Cup for me as a 13yo.

I always try and do what is best for my horses, for racing and the racing public, and always will do. But it is almost as if some people want Kauto to fail at Cheltenham, so they can say "I told you so".

It really isn't appreciated, however well intentioned some of the comments may have been.

Trust me, we will do what is best for the horse, as we have always done.

Read Paul's thoughts on the form of his stable.

Ever wanted a share in a Paul Nicholls horse? This Sunday night Paul is playing at Betfair Poker and you can play against him. The winner of this tournament lands a 5% share in Indian Daudaie for the season. Other prizes include stable visits and much more. Click here to find out more.

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  1. Phil Deans | 21 January 2011

    Paul,
    Kauto would have been second on Saturday but for the mistake at the second, Long Run was impressive at Kempton last season and in the King George, but i think it will be a different story at Cheltenham. So i think Kauto will beat Long Run in the Gold Cup.
    However i do think Denman will be a challenge to Kauto, he ran a super race in the Hennesy, and i know you know Denman better than anyone and say he's difficult to train, but he looked as good as ever at Newbury. The connections of Diamond Harry seem pretty keen for the Gold Cup to come round, but i think Denmam if you can get him right will take all the beating on Gold Cup Day.
    By the way what did you think of Clive Smith's remarks about Tony McCoy's ride of Kauto? He's the owner so very entitled to his opinion, and i agree Ruby get's the best tune out of Kauto, but i though Tony did nothing wrong on Saturday, similarly when he was riding Denman last year. He gave Denman an excellent ride in the Gold Cup.
    Would be interested in your views.

  2. Anonymous | 21 January 2011

    The reason people are concerned with Kauto is because we don't want to see him end up like so many other good, very good and great horses in their later years on a racetrack, i.e. getting stuffed by animals who would not have seen which way he went in his prime. It would be unfair to the horse and his legacy. We don't want another Dessie. Let him go out on top, or somewhere close to it.

  3. Anonymous | 21 January 2011

    If Kauto "loves his routine" so much how does he cope when he is turned out for the summer?

  4. Anonymous | 22 January 2011

    Pretty surprised by the comments above... His trainer (the champion trainer) says he's loving his racing and will keep going - thats good enough for me. Quite honestly id hate to see him retired, and talk of it at this time is compllete trash from people with no idea - Ive backed him on everyone of his outings in the last 5 years and il be backing him again at cheltnam - the horse owes no one anything and i hope he proves his doubters wrong come march.

  5. Philippe | 22 January 2011

    Supporters support their hero(es) when times are though, they don't abandon them. They cheer them on a victorious day, to show their gratitude.
    Kauto has tried his best at every race he ran especially when defeated. He tries so hard in fact that he could easily have killed himself trying last year, and that's why he doesn't like it when things don't go his way... Now can all the critics pretend to support Kauto and his team? Can they claim to try as hard in their daily routine as Kauto? Can they show as much courage and class as he does? Then I would just remind them that none of the horses in jump racing have asked to be there,but yet they risk their lives to entertain these people....

  6. anom | 24 January 2011

    dont right a horse off for 1 bad run as all horses like humans are capable of a bad day

  7. Danj | 24 January 2011

    Everybody written Denman off last year for the gold cup, He finished second and from my pov a up and down year for the horse in terms of confidence, Winning the hennesey (Joint top Performance for me personally along side Kauto's KG win last year) and Litterely Living up to "the tank" by walking through the fence at newbury. He also came back this season to come third giving 2 stone to the eventual winners, Impressive? 2 Months later Kauto finishes Third with a bleed and Infection. How can people write either of them off for the gold cup? Why was Denmans run not put down as old age? Because neither was. 2 stone + Bleed/Infection + 3rd in a grade one..Speaks volumes.

    Kauto Star (foaled March 19, 2000)
    Denman (foaled 17 April 2000)