Kauto Star wins King George VI, sets record

KEMPTON, England — Kauto Star won the King George VI Chase for an unprecedented fifth time on Monday, dethroning the younger defending champion Long Run on Monday.

Ruby Walsh's mount beat the 11-8 favorite Long Run by a length and a quarter at Kempton Park to surpass Desert Orchid's record of four victories.

"This is a fairytale," Walsh said. "He's beaten a 6-year-old and he's 12 next week. To keep a horse going as long as that is amazing. You can say what you want about the best steeplechasers of all time, but he's outlasted them all."

Last season Kauto Star had been left trailing 19 lengths in third behind Long Run, which then went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup to leave his older rival's career on the line.

But Kauto Star firmly re-established himself as Britain's leading steeplechaser over 3 miles (4.8 km) on Monday with a 16th Grade One victory and 23rd overall from 40 starts.

"He's just awesome," trainer Paul Nicholls said. "I don't know why he wasn't quite right last year . . . he's just the best. If he gets to Cheltenham in that form, he'll be the one to beat (in the Gold Cup)."

Sent out at 3-1, the French-bred gelding was in front with a circuit to go and as the pace quickened heading down the back straight, produced some sensational leaps.

Long Run stayed on tenaciously in the home straight, but with Sam Waley-Cohen on board failed to match Kauto Star's impressive speed and jumping.

"This was the biggest day of my racing life — 24 years or so," owner Clive Smith said. "It's unbelievable and I'm so proud. He's such a magnificent animal. He's got such a heart. He wants to go on. He's a lion."

Walsh had to settle for second earlier in the day as Binocular, with Tony McCoy on board, defended his Christmas Hurdle title, beating Rock On Ruby by a neck.

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