Kauto Star proves his greatness

Adjust font size:

CHELTENHAM, England -- Kauto Star, the 5-4 favorite ridden by Ruby Walsh, survived another last fence scare to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and be crowned one of steeplechasing's greatest champions on Friday.

The victory also landed a £1 million ($1.95 million) bonus for the horse's businessman owner Clive Smith, after winning two other races linked with the Gold Cup this season.

In second place, 2-1/2 lengths away, was 9-2 second favorite Exotic Dancer with 40-1 outsider Turpin Green the same distance behind, finishing third of the 18 runners.

Kauto Star had won all his five previous races this season, but hit the last fence hard in the most recent two, raising doubts about whether Cheltenham's stiff fences might catch him out.

Walsh and Kauto Star looked all over the winners coming to the last, after traveling smoothly throughout, but racegoers' hearts were in their mouths as the pair rose at the final obstacle.

The duo brushed through the top but kept the momentum going for the stamina-sapping run up the tough Cheltenham hill.

Winning trainer Paul Nicholls said: "He is awesome - a very, very good horse. There are not too many horses who have done what he has done this year. Maybe people might believe in him now."

Anxious moment

Walsh said: "Maybe I got to the front a bit soon, but that was the most anxious moment. There is no doubt he is the best horse I have ever ridden.

"To win a Tingle Creek (steeplechase, over two miles), to win a King George (steeplechase, over three miles), to win a Gold Cup I don't remember too many horses who could do that," he told reporters after his epic win over three miles 2 1/2 furlongs (5.3 km).

Smith, a golf course builder, said "This has been my dream ever since I first came to the Gold Cup in 1974."

Asked if he was anxious as Kauto Star jumped the last, he said: "Yes, he did hit the top of it but he sailed on".

Among the first to congratulate Smith was Jim Lewis, owner of triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate, who told him: "One down, two to go".

Tools:
Save |
Print |
E-mail |
Most Popular |

Next story in World Sport

World Sport

Iranian official: Arrest anti-government protesters

An Iranian national security official has called for demonstrators to be arrested following deadly weekend anti-government protests in Tehran. Soon afterwar ...

Kauto Star brushes through the final fence but goes on to achieve a memorable victory.

Kauto Star proves his greatness

Anxious moment

Iranian official: Arrest anti-government protesters