European steeplechase champion Kauto Star dies

Kauto Star, the winner of two Cheltenham Gold Cups and 16 Grade 1 steeplechases in England and Northern Ireland from 2005 to 2011, was euthanized on Tuesday as a result of paddock injuries suffered last week.

Kauto Star, 15, was being treated for neck and pelvis injuries at a veterinary clinic in Lambourn, England, west of London, when the decision was made that he could not be saved.

A French-bred by Village Star, Kauto Star won 23 of 41 starts in his career, which began in France in 2003. He was a stakes winner over hurdles in Paris that year, but his career changed when he was sent to leading English jump trainer Paul Nicholls for the 2004-05 jump-racing season.

Switched to the tougher steeplechase obstacles, Kauto Star quickly rose in prominence, winning 19 of 31 chases. His first major stakes win in England was the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Trophy at two miles at Sandown in December 2005, a race he won again in 2006.

At the end of 2006, Kauto Star won the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park, one of the most prestigious steeplechases of the year. He would win the race a record five times – from 2007 to 2009 and again in 2011.

Owned by Clive Smith, Kauto Star won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2007, finished second to stablemate Denman in 2008, and won the race again in 2009, becoming the first horse to win the race twice in nonconsecutive years.

Kauto Star had winning streaks of three, four, and six races at various times during his career.

Kauto Star was retired after being pulled up in the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup and was switched to dressage training. He appeared at the London International Horse Show in that capacity last winter.