Owner Clive Smith has indicated Kauto Star is likely to race again if he is pleasing connections in his training regimen.
The four-time King George hero and dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was pulled up at the Punchestown Festival at his latest racecourse appearance in May, leading many to suggest retirement beckoned for the 11-year-old.
His summer holiday officially came to an end when he returned to work with champion trainer Paul Nicholls on Monday and how he fares as his workload is stepped up will determine whether his racing career will continue.
“He’ll have some light training and we’ll bring him up to regular training,” Smith told At The Races.
“Clifford Baker will be on him all the time and if he gives us the right signs and Kauto is showing a lot of spark, then we will look for a race for him.
“It will be the right race and I can assure everybody that he will never be pushed too far. If ever he shows any sign of not being right then we’ll retire him straight away.”
The heir apparent to Kauto Star’s crown is the Nicky Henderson-trained Long Run, winner of the King George and the Gold Cup last season and still only a six-year-old.
Smith feels Long Run has plenty of talent but is unsure whether he can produce the same level of consistency as Kauto Star has done over the years.
“The only thing I wonder about Long Run is his jumping,” Smith said.
“It was a tremendous run in the Gold Cup and Sam Waley-Cohen was a very brave, young jockey. He just threw him at the fences.
“He raised his game and cleared them all and he’s a tremendous horse.
“Whether he’s going to be consistent, I don’t know. He looks a very talented horse, so maybe he can do as well as Kauto.”
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