AP McCoy names his horse of a lifetime: Kauto Star

[JER]

The recently-crowned Sports Personality of the Year talks to the Guardian about Kauto Star, who he says is the best he’s ever sat on.

Tony McCoy names Kauto Star horse of a lifetime

AP hasn’t been Kauto’s regular rider (that would mostly be Ruby Walsh) but injuries to Ruby and, most recently, Neil Fehily, mean that on Monday, McCoy will ride Kauto in the King George, seeking a record 5th win for the horse.

The article features a great description of Kauto Star:

Charisma, bearing, self-possession, physical majesty, and eyes that radiate life and energy: all are detectableas you move closer to him – and on the track when he is fresh, hungry and enjoying his obvious superiority over other horses.

Having stood just a few feet away from KS, I’d have to agree.

[Toadie_s_mom]

So it’s been postponed? Wonder if it will run on Mon.?

[Equilibrium]

Weather has been dreadful but it should be ok on Monday. If you follow Paul Nichols on Facebook you can get some video of his morning schooling sessions.

KS is an amazing horse and he just keeps coming back every season just as good.

Terri

[harvestmoon]

Sort of random, but I simply love this photo of KS:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/article-504629/Kauto-Star-takes-best-Arkle.html

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Kauto gets the chance to write himself into the history books tomorrow. Kind weird to see the King George being run in Jan though! Almost doesn’t feel like a King George without it being on St Stephenses Day.

KAUTO STAR’S tilt at a historic fifth successive victory in the William Hill King George VI Chase had to be put on hold for three weeks due to the big freeze but on Saturday the superstar chaser will finally get his chance to enter racing’s record books.

The delay has set connections of all horses the challenge of bringing their runners to another peak, but those associated with Kauto Star believe he is still the same horse who galloped to four wins in the Kempton showpiece.
Persistent rain at the track throughout the week has left the ground as good to soft, soft in places and trainer Paul Nicholls reckons that will suit Kauto Star, who will be ridden by 15-time champion jockey Tony McCoy for the first time in the absence of the injured Ruby Walsh.

“I think that [the ground] is in his favour,” Nicholls said on Friday. "It makes it more of a test of his stamina. I bet it will ride soft after all the rain we’ve had but it won’t be heavy. It won’t be a problem for Kauto.

“He did have an easy week after Boxing Day and looks to be fresh and well. Confident is a difficult word to say in racing but we are confident that in himself he is very well. He looks superb and everything he has done is right.”

Kauto Star and his eight rivals will take centre stage on what looks like being a sensational day’s racing at Kempton. A nine-race card gets under way at 11.50am and also features the rescheduled Williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle in which last season’s Champion Hurdle first and second Binocular and Khyber Kim meet again.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Wow, check this out. ATR goes to France to find the roots of Kauto Star and visits the breeder and farm where he was bred and also talk to French jumps trainers and breeders to help understand the current domination of NH racing by French bred horses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x43xv4Kezig
If you’re into jumps breeding and training, this is a must watch.

[JER]

Drvmb1ggl3, this may be of interest to you:

Lucinda Green: French horses are trained to look after themselves

Really strange for the King George to be happening in January but who really cares if KS is running?

FWIW, I’ve stood very close to KS, like just a few feet away. He is every inch a star and knows it. Poses for photos, too.

[houndsplease]

how can we watch it on this side of the pond ?

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Oh well, it wasn’t to be.
A very well beaten 3rd. Was in trouble a long way from home, as Long Run stalked him menacingly full of running. Tried to rally in the stretch but any hopes of catching the winner went when he hammered the 2nd last fence and it was a miracle that AP stayed on board.

Kudos to the winner though, that was dominating performance and a wonderful ride from his amatuer jock Sam Waley Cohen.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Btw, the winner is a just turned 6yo (technically still just a 5yo till Apr 5th), and yes… he’s French.
The next Kauto? Going on that performance he could very well be.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Replay of King George.
http://horses.sportinglife.com/Video/Racing/0,27770,414175,00.html

[Drvmb1ggl3]

AP demonstrates again today why is is without doubt the greatest jump jockey extant (possibly greatest jockey period).

And check on that betting in-running… £284 matched at 999/1 :eek::eek:… holy mudder-a-gawd, someone is sitting pretty tonight! And someone else is pretty damned depressed :lol:

McCOY SHINES ON 999/1 WINNER

Tony McCoy booted home Folie A Deux in the 100% British Barley Handicap Chase at Warwick to the delight of some in-running punters.

The 15-times champion jockey looked to be rowing away on a lost cause as he niggled away on his mount throughout and the pair became detached from the field four out.

£284 was matched at the maximum price of 999/1 on Betfair as McCoy and Folie A Deux still had several lengths to make up on the field rounding the final turn.

The nine-year-old began to make up ground in the straight, but was still last jumping the final fence despite being on the tails of the main group.

However, under a typical McCoy drive, Folie A Deux went from last to first up the rail in the closing stages to nail Earl Grez right on the line.

http://horses.sportinglife.com/Video/Racing/0,27770,415678_3,00.html