- Five time King George winner to give dressage demonstration
Kauto Star will perform under floodlights and in front of the largest crowd yet since retiring from racing when he appears on the opening night of the London International Horse Show at Olympia on Tuesday 16 December.
The record breaking five time King George VI Chase winner will be ridden by Laura Collett in a dressage demonstration showcasing how the 14 year-old gelding has adapted to his new career since being retired from racing. On a star studded dressage themed evening in front of a capacity crowd of over 7,500, Kauto Star will be one of the box office names on show, sharing the bill with World Equestrian Games silver medalist Michael Eilberg ahead of the Reem Arca FEI World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix, in which world number one Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro are set to compete.
The dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner retired from racing in 2012 after winning 16 Grade One races for owner Clive Smith and trainer Paul Nicholls. Kauto Star has since been retrained in dressage by international Three Day Event rider, Laura Collett.
Looking ahead to Tuesday night, Laura Collett said:
“It’s very exciting. I don’t know for sure how Kauto will react on the night as there is no way of preparing a horse to perform in front of a packed crowd at Olympia. The combination of the lights and the crowd make for an electric atmosphere. However, he is a horse that loves attention and I am sure he will rise to the occasion.
“He is a very intelligent horse and has been a pleasure to be around throughout his time with me. He has adapted really well, enjoys his dressage and I would love him to show everyone how far he has come by delivering a great demonstration on Tuesday night.”
Di Arbuthnot, Chief Executive of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), added:
“Being the best known steeplechaser of recent years, Kauto Star’s appearance at Olympia provides a great opportunity to highlight the versatility of racehorses to a wider audience.
“Awareness and appreciation of the adaptability of former racehorses is increasing and Kauto Star’s profile has undoubtedly helped spread the word. It is also a measure of the success Laura and Yogi Breisner have had in retraining Kauto that he is now able to appear on such a stage as Olympia, under the lights and in front of a packed crowd. I am really looking forward to seeing him in action.”
The following week on Boxing Day, Kauto Star will be back on more familiar ground when he parades at Kempton Park ahead of the 2014 running of the William Hill King George VI Chase.
Notes to editors:
1. RoR is British Horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of horses that have retired from racing. It raises funds from within racing to provide facilities for the care, retraining and re-homing of former racehorses, and to promote awareness of the suitability of the retrained racehorse for other equine careers. For more information visit www.ror.org.uk.
