The King is Dead

Kauto Star – my hero

A year ago today Kauto Star died. It seems longer.

Thanks to trainer Paul Nicholls and the open door policy he and his team operate down at Ditcheat, I was able to Meet Kauto Star more than once. I even got to spend a few minutes in his stable – and stand in his shit!

What Kauto Star achieved on a racecourse is there for all to read.

Kauto Star and Ruby Walsh

Thanks to the quality of modern day television pictures, generations to come will be able to view great images of Kauto Star in action and in colour. I still watch footage of personal flat racing favourites such as Brigadier Gerard and Njinsky. Or jump racing heroes greats like Arkle. But the footage may be grainy or incomplete.

No such problem when it comes to watching one of the many memorable Kauto Star victories.

When he and I first met back in 2011, he chewed the lapel of my coat. No problem. I never liked that coat.

Clifford with Kauto Star

The last time we met it was for the unveiling of the statue in his honour at Haydock Park, scene of some of his great performances. With permission of those who loved him and looked after him every day, Clifford Baker and Donna Blake, I fed Kauto Star some polo mints.

When I patted him goodbye, I didn’t think it would be the last time I saw him in the flesh. Had I done so, I would have hugged him.