Kauto Star wins King George VI for record 5th time
December 26, 2011KEMPTON, England (AP) - Kauto Star has won the King George VI Chase for an unprecedented fifth time, beating last year's winner Long Run.
Ridden by jockey Ruby Walsh, the 11-year-old Kauto Star finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of 6-year-old Long Run in the three-mile steeplechase at Kempton Park on Monday.
With the win, Kauto Star moves ahead of Desert Orchid's four victories in the prestigious race.
In last year's Chase, Long Run easily defeated Kauto Star and went on to take the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Winning trainer Paul Nicholls calls Kauto Star ``awesome'' and adds ``I don't know why he wasn't quite right last year ... he's just the best. If he gets to Cheltenham in that form he'll be the one to beat.''