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Kauto Star found to be suffering from infection

Kauto Star

The aftermath of the defeat of Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Saturday took another turn when it was found that he is suffering from an infection.

Kauto Star had been attempting a record-breaking fifth successive victory in the King George but finished third, beaten 19 lengths, by Long Run. The 11-year-old appeared to be struggling with the pace set by Nacarat from halfway and lost all chance with a serious mistake at the second-last fence, which almost unseated Tony McCoy.

Speaking on his twitter account, trainer Paul Nicholls said: “Just had K Stars blood test results. Shows signs of inflammation and low grade infection. Weeks antibiotics and easy few days. Update on Friday.”

The news follows on from a previous report form Nicholls that Kauto Star had bled after the race, the first time that the horse had done so in his 36-race career.

Immediately after the race Nicholls, while scotching any suggestions that Kauto Star would be retired, did concede that the defeat could have been a portent that the horse was not quite the force of old. “I was never really happy at any stage of the race,” he admitted. “He didn’t jump as well [as he can] and he never looked like the winner today – he just looked like he’d lost half a yard of speed.

“Last year he was five lengths in front and tanking. This time, turning in, he was just struggling, he made that mistake at the second-last and a younger pair of legs beat him. He’s done incredibly well to come here five times and I suppose that’s why no horse has ever won five times.”

Nicholls had already said that Kauto Star would not run again until he makes what will be his fifth successive appearance in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. The trainer is hopeful that Kauto Star can recapture at least some of his sparkle for the Gold Cup but Phil Smith, the BHA’s head of handicapping clearly has his doubts. Just over a year after Kauto Star reached the heights, when he was awarded an official rating of 190 following his 36-length victory in last season’s King George, he has plummeted 16lbs.

Kauto Star is now rated at 174, which puts him sixth in the overall list and 11lbs behind Imperial Commander.

Paul Wheeler

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