Dual Gold Cup winner Kauto Star has been put down after a serious injury sustained whilst in his paddock.
Speaking on At The Races, his former trainer Paul Nicholls called it an "extremely sad day". Nicholls described the horse as a "champion of all champions" that was so good for National Hunt racing.
In a career record that included 23 wins from 41 starts, Kauto Star won the King George VI Chase five times and Nicholls said he "used to light up Kempton Park [at Christmas]."
Career highlights:
2 x Cheltenham Gold Cup wins (2007, 2009)
5 x Kempton Park King George VI wins (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
2 x Sandown Park Tingle Creek wins (2005, 2006)
Showing posts with label Gold Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gold Cup. Show all posts
30 June 2015
15 December 2014
GBR Fantasy Jumps Series 2014-2015
Our leading stable earned 375 points on Saturday, taking the total past 1,000 points and the combination strategy worked a treat, although it was not the Nicholls-Twiston-Davies partnership that did the business this time.
Instead Venetia Williams and Niceonefrankie (16/1) won 236 points for victory in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Unfortunately, jockey Aidan Coleman is not in our stable to complete the trio.
Later on the card The New One (4/7f) was not a hard selection to make in the Stan James International Hurdle but still contributed almost 60 points in partnership with Sam Twiston-Davies.
Instead Venetia Williams and Niceonefrankie (16/1) won 236 points for victory in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Unfortunately, jockey Aidan Coleman is not in our stable to complete the trio.
Later on the card The New One (4/7f) was not a hard selection to make in the Stan James International Hurdle but still contributed almost 60 points in partnership with Sam Twiston-Davies.
28 January 2014
Racing review: Cheltenham Festival trials
The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle has been the source of several Festival winners in recent years and it would be a surprise if one of the first two in 2014’s running did not add to that record. Red Sherlock (9/4) and Rathvinden (6/4f) finished well clear of the useful Aubusson (7/1) on Saturday.
Red Sherlock remains unbeaten and has been priced at around 7/1 for the race of the same name at the Festival. His trainer David Pipe said afterwards: “He stays well and might get further so I'd imagine he'll have entries over two-five and three miles at the Festival.”
Saturday’s going at Cheltenham (heavy, soft in places) does add a complication to assessing likely Festival performance, when the going is usually better (although, given the UK weather in recent times, it could be anything).
A combination of the ground, age and lengthy absence from the racetrack accounted for Big Buck’s’ defeat in the Cleeve Hurdle. The 11-year-old led the field quite a long way from the finish and was only overtaken by Knockara Beau (66/1) and At Fishers Cross (5/1) in the final 75 yards of the three mile race.
Big Buck’s remains the favourite for the World Hurdle and will no doubt improve on better ground and with Saturday’s run. But he will have to improve to win the World Hurdle if Annie Power runs in the race. Willie Mullins’ mare won easily at Doncaster on Saturday (1/6f) and would receive a mare’s allowance in the World Hurdle. But her plans have not yet been confirmed for the Festival.
At Fishers Cross put in a much improved performance to finish second but it does not look like Festival winning form to finish behind an 11-year-old in Knockara Beau and less than a length ahead of Big Buck’s, who was giving him 4lbs.
The picture for the Cheltenham Gold Cup was made clearer in the sense that several contenders had poor performances on Saturday and look unlikely to win the main event in March.
The current ante-post prices for the Gold Cup tell the story of Saturday's runners: Boston Bob 25/1, The Giant Bolster 33/1, Rocky Creek 40/1, Harry Topper 50/1, Houblon Des Obeaux 100/1.
Le Rocher (Nick Williams) was a good winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial but the gelding could have been one to benefit from the heavy going on Saturday. He has won twice now on heavy ground. If he runs at the Festival he will have to act on what will presumably be better ground.
There is much to ponder on over the next month or so.
Red Sherlock remains unbeaten and has been priced at around 7/1 for the race of the same name at the Festival. His trainer David Pipe said afterwards: “He stays well and might get further so I'd imagine he'll have entries over two-five and three miles at the Festival.”
Saturday’s going at Cheltenham (heavy, soft in places) does add a complication to assessing likely Festival performance, when the going is usually better (although, given the UK weather in recent times, it could be anything).
A combination of the ground, age and lengthy absence from the racetrack accounted for Big Buck’s’ defeat in the Cleeve Hurdle. The 11-year-old led the field quite a long way from the finish and was only overtaken by Knockara Beau (66/1) and At Fishers Cross (5/1) in the final 75 yards of the three mile race.
Big Buck’s remains the favourite for the World Hurdle and will no doubt improve on better ground and with Saturday’s run. But he will have to improve to win the World Hurdle if Annie Power runs in the race. Willie Mullins’ mare won easily at Doncaster on Saturday (1/6f) and would receive a mare’s allowance in the World Hurdle. But her plans have not yet been confirmed for the Festival.
At Fishers Cross put in a much improved performance to finish second but it does not look like Festival winning form to finish behind an 11-year-old in Knockara Beau and less than a length ahead of Big Buck’s, who was giving him 4lbs.
The picture for the Cheltenham Gold Cup was made clearer in the sense that several contenders had poor performances on Saturday and look unlikely to win the main event in March.
The current ante-post prices for the Gold Cup tell the story of Saturday's runners: Boston Bob 25/1, The Giant Bolster 33/1, Rocky Creek 40/1, Harry Topper 50/1, Houblon Des Obeaux 100/1.
Le Rocher (Nick Williams) was a good winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial but the gelding could have been one to benefit from the heavy going on Saturday. He has won twice now on heavy ground. If he runs at the Festival he will have to act on what will presumably be better ground.
There is much to ponder on over the next month or so.
20 June 2013
Royal Ascot 2013: Day 3
The Americans struck in the opening Group 2 Norfolk Stakes with the Wesley Ward-trained No Nay Never (4/1). The lack of rain at Ascot meant the going was good to firm and the colt set a course record for two-year-olds over five furlongs (58.80 seconds).
Lady Cecil carried on Sir Henry’s great record at Royal Ascot by sending Riposte (9/2) out to win the Ribblesdale Stakes, just over a week after he passed away. Tom Queally asked the filly for her effort over a furlong from home and she responded with a good burst of speed that her rivals could not match. She ran out a comfortable winner by two and a quarter lengths.
Her Majesty the Queen then became the first reigning monarch to win the Gold Cup when her runner Estimate (7/2f), trained by Sir Michael Stoute, took the prize. The filly had a real battle with Simenon and Top Trip in the final furlong and just prevailed by a neck. The result gave great delight to Her Majesty and she received the Gold Cup, which she usually presents, from her son Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
Bookmakers got some respite in the Britannia Stakes after paying out on some well-backed horse in the earlier races because Roca Tumu was the winner at 20/1. Tariki (33/1), Queensberry Rules (16/1), and Wentworth (7/2f) filled the places in behind.
But the bookies suffered again in the Tercentenary Stakes when the strongly fancied Remote (9/4f) took the honours for John Gosden and William Buick. At the start of June Remote was winning a Class 2 Handicap at Doncaster and before that a maiden stakes at Newbury.
Her Majesty was not able to make it a double on the day as favourite Bold Sniper was unable to get to the winner Elidor (20/1) (Mick Channon) in the King George V Stakes. Elidor gave jockey Martin Harley his first Royal Ascot winner and he showed his elation as he passed the winning post.
Surprisingly, the award for nonsense phrase of the day on Channel 4 Racing went not to Brix Smith but Clare Balding for her assertion that “you cannot predict history” in the aftermath of the Queen’s Gold Cup win.
Lady Cecil carried on Sir Henry’s great record at Royal Ascot by sending Riposte (9/2) out to win the Ribblesdale Stakes, just over a week after he passed away. Tom Queally asked the filly for her effort over a furlong from home and she responded with a good burst of speed that her rivals could not match. She ran out a comfortable winner by two and a quarter lengths.
Her Majesty the Queen then became the first reigning monarch to win the Gold Cup when her runner Estimate (7/2f), trained by Sir Michael Stoute, took the prize. The filly had a real battle with Simenon and Top Trip in the final furlong and just prevailed by a neck. The result gave great delight to Her Majesty and she received the Gold Cup, which she usually presents, from her son Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
Bookmakers got some respite in the Britannia Stakes after paying out on some well-backed horse in the earlier races because Roca Tumu was the winner at 20/1. Tariki (33/1), Queensberry Rules (16/1), and Wentworth (7/2f) filled the places in behind.
But the bookies suffered again in the Tercentenary Stakes when the strongly fancied Remote (9/4f) took the honours for John Gosden and William Buick. At the start of June Remote was winning a Class 2 Handicap at Doncaster and before that a maiden stakes at Newbury.
Her Majesty was not able to make it a double on the day as favourite Bold Sniper was unable to get to the winner Elidor (20/1) (Mick Channon) in the King George V Stakes. Elidor gave jockey Martin Harley his first Royal Ascot winner and he showed his elation as he passed the winning post.
Surprisingly, the award for nonsense phrase of the day on Channel 4 Racing went not to Brix Smith but Clare Balding for her assertion that “you cannot predict history” in the aftermath of the Queen’s Gold Cup win.
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