Kauto Star: Racehorse could compete in dressage, says owner

Record-breaking racehorse Kauto Star could compete in dressage events, owner Clive Smith has revealed.

Kauto Star, the first horse to win the King George VI Chase five times and a two-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, retired earlier this year.

A statue of Kauto Star was unveiled at Haydock on Saturday and Smith said he believed he could compete again.

A statue of Kauto Star was unveiled at Haydock

"We're looking at the possibility of dressage. He's a very intelligent horse and he's very athletic," said Smith.

Trainer Paul Nicholls told Channel 4's Morning Line programme: "Kauto Star is in as good a shape as ever.

"We're very happy we retired him at the top when he was in such good shape.

"It was a hard decision (to retire him) but it was the right decision.

"He needs to be doing something active, but we've got to have discussions with Clive to see what we do from Christmas onwards.

"We've got to make the right plan for the horse. He needs to be kept safe and he needs a good rider on him."

The half life-size statue of Kauto Star comes after he won the Betfair Chase at Haydock in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011.