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Is Clive Smith attempting maximum monetary benefit out of Kauto Star, now that he may not have too much time left on the ractrack? I’m very surprised their "strongly considering" this, especially when you take in all that Nicholls has said about the horse being best fresh these days, indeed adjusting Kauto’s race schedule last season in the process. It worked so well for the King George last year why not leave it like that?
I don’t have happy visions of seeing Kauto Star lumping upwards of 12 stone around soft ground at Newbury a month before the King George.
Is it fair to ask the horse to concede upwards of 26lbs to top class staying chasers in the Hennessey? After all he has done?
Or is there an element of greed here?
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I don’t have happy visions of seeing Kauto Star lumping upwards of 12 stone around soft ground at Newbury a month before the King George.
11st 12lb your honour. The lightest weight he has carried in the last 5 years is 11st 7lb. In that regard, the Hennessy is really no big deal, not that I necessarily think it’s a top bit of planning.
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I’d love to see him carry 11-12 to victory – not least because it would take an astonishing performance to give so much weight away to top class staying handicappers – but not if it jeopardises his chances of winning a fifth King George. Henrietta Knight was regularly criticised for failing to put Best Mate to the test in such an arena, but it’s safe to say that Kauto Star has already proven himself beyond all doubt.
With that in mind could it actually be a win-win for connections; a stunning victory for one of the greatest steeplechasers of all time, or merely the perfect warm-up for Kempton?
I really think he just wants his horse to retire without the question mark over him of never giving weight away to other horses. Clive Smith is of the Arkle generation of racing enthusiasts and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t need the money. Remember Denman has done both.
I wouldn’t run him as I think it would end in tears. But what I’m really looking forward to is ,hopefully, seeing The Tank being the first horse to win the Hennessy three times.
If he’s sound and fit, I say run him. But then, I’m not a big believer in keeping perfectly healthy horses in the stable. Nor do I believe a few pounds difference affects a 1000+ lb animal nearly as much as many seem to think.
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IF Neptune Collonges is on the form which twice saw him 7-8 lengths behind Denman in the 08/09 Gold Cups he will be very tough to beat and think he’s better value than last seasons novices that are trading at half the price.
An intriguing and sporting idea I reckon that encapsulates what NH is (or should be) about
Personally there’s always a nagging feeling "it’ll all end in tears" whenever I watch any horse leap a fence; if you can’t handle that then don’t follow the game, so KS shouldn’t be denied a run on that emotionally-coloured basis
Rising 11 it’s likely this season will see a dimunition of his powers from exceptional to top-class and giving weight in handicaps may be the wisest way for him to further embellish his glittering CV
The Racing Post Chase would be my choice in the new year and forget the Gold Cup.
As for the Hennessy well I think Denman will prove much superior to KS over that course, distance and in the likely conditions but wouldn’t it warm the cockles to see the two topweights fighting it out and stringing out the field, unlikely though that may be
Go for it Smith ‘n’ Nicholls, racing needs Races with a big bold underlined capital R[/size:2of30ju4]
Kauto is not built to carry weight….
I think its a crazy decision…just wait for king george
Wallace, that is some cliched drivel unless i imagined Kauto Star winning many Grade 1’s carrying 11st 10lb.
I would have thought he was poorly handicapped personally – is he as good as he was when winning the ’09 Gold Cup? Possibly. Is he a stone better? Definately not, in my opinion of course.
That in mind, now seems an odd time to start searching for handicap glory. That said, it would certainly be some spectacle so should probably be encouraged from a neutrals point of view.
I would much rather Kauto wins a 5th king george that wins a Hennesey imo.
5 King George’s Wowwwwaazzaaa
But doesnt it make a nonsense of what Nicholls has said about the horse in recent times.
"Kauto’s obviously a better horse fresh" – Paul Nicholls
His record backs that up
Haydock 08 – Would have struggled at best to beat Snoopy Loopy following 21 day break, if he had stood up.
Aintree 08 – Beaten by Our Vic following 20 day break.
Cheltenham 08 – Beaten by Denman following 27 day break.Combine that with the following after defeat in the Old Roan of 2007 (the last time the horse ran in a handicap) where he only had to concede a stone to Monet’s Garden (as opposed to 26 lbs to most of the field in the upcoming Hennessey)
“In hindsight, I was asking him an impossible question last time. It was probably a mistake to come here and give him such a hard race against a proper two-and-a-half miler in Monet’s Garden.”
– Paul Nicholls
As has been pointed out the exchange price may well mean he doesn’t run and all of this is irrelevant but if he does it certainly contradicts a lot of the trainers public utterances on the matter.
His record and Nicholls’ comments are there for all to see and the received wisdom of the majority so familiar are we all with Kauto Star. So no arguing with the historical facts presented in your post CR
However what’s done doesn’t necessarily forecast what’s to come and horses, above most else, do have the tendency to make one scratch one’s head. The physical attributes of horses, like people do subtly change with age
As it happens I do agree with the notion that a run in the Hennessy will likely compromise his chances in the KG, but that doesn’t mean connections shouldn’t be congratulated for considering alternative – or additional – races for the horse
Don’t believe for one minute financial considerations have swayed Smith; he just doesn’t seem the type to me, and as has been pointed out he’s as rich as Croesus anyway
To repeat: proving himself capable of giving weight in top handicaps rising 11 would put a final coat of gloss on an already Duluxian career
Doubt he’ll prove capable if allowed to run in the Hennessy, but boy-o-boy I’d relish the opportunity to see him try
Kauto is not built to carry weight….
I think its a crazy decision…just wait for king george
What weight? Its a mere two pounds more than he’s carried to four King George victories and two Gold Cups.
I’m undecided whether or not its a good idea to run him though due to the proximity of the King George.
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Kauto Star is actually handicapped on his 09 King George win, a travesty of a race where Nacarat set a suicidal pace, and (KS apart) the others just picked up the pieces. No way (imo) will Kauto ever run within 7lb of that rating again, and it’s mission impossible to expect him to do so.
Agree with Drone though, that the Racing Post Chase would see him more likely to give weight away than round Newbury, wouldn’t prejudice his KG chances, and may still give him enough time for another Gold Cup attempt.
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