King Kauto put down after paddock fall

Gold Cup hero Kauto Star has been put down following a fall at Laura Collett's dressage yard.

The legendary chaser twice won Cheltenham's Blue Riband event, in 2007 and 2009, becoming the first horse ever to regain the Gold Cup having finished second to stablemate Denman in the 2008 renewal.

Trained by Paul Nicholls at his Ditcheat yard, Kauto Star was the shining light in a golden generation for Nicholls' team that also included Denman, Master Minded and Big Buck's.

Kauto Star suffered neck and pelvis injuries in a fall at Collett's yard and owner Clive Smith revealed the decision was taken to put down the 15-year-old in his best interests.

“I am devastated. He had been turned out in Laura's paddock, as has been done normally with him at this time for years, and he looks to have jumped something, and stumbled, we're not really sure, but he injured himself – and it became obvious it was serious,” Smith told the Racing Post.

“The vets made him comfortable but it became evident that it was serious, and the kindest thing was to euthanise him.”

Kauto Star – winner of 21 of his 43 races – was arguably most famous for his domination of the annual Boxing Day showpiece, the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.

He won the mid-winter highlight a record five times in total, including in his final season in 2011 when he famously lowered the colours of reigning champion and former Gold Cup winner Long Run.

Nicholls took to Twitter this morning to pay tribute to his former stable star, the champion trainer saying “RIP my friend, you were a true Legend. Once in a lifetime.”

Ruby Walsh was the regular partner for Kauto Star and while recently retired champion jockey AP McCoy had the pleasure of riding the French-bred star on just one occasion, he took to social media this morning to declare Kauto Star the “most complete chaser of the modern era.”