Kauto Star treble gets £1m jackpot

JOCKEY Club Racecourses have dangled a £1million carrot in front of National Hunt trainers for any horse which emulates Kauto Star and wins the Betfair Chase, William Hill King George VI Chase and Betfred Gold Cup this season.

The i nitiative mirrors a bonus scheme introduced by Betfair for the 2006-07 campaign, which the legendary Kauto Star managed to land.

Paul Fisher, managing director of JCR, said: ‘ We want to encourage horses to attempt to win all three of our chase Triple Crown races and forge a place in racing folklore reserved for only the very best.

‘Kauto Star was a special racehorse and I’m delighted to announce this bonus in his honour.

‘Hopefully the chance to win £1m makes the chase Triple Crown opportunity even more compelling for owners and trainers, supports jockeys and stable staff, too, and will provide a great story to follow if the treble is on.’

Meanwhile, Ryan Moore will replace Fergus Sweeney on the unbeaten Twilight Sun in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Part owners Cheveley Park Stud, who bought into Twilight Sun before his success in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock, utilise Moore whenever he is available and have stressed the switch is no reflection on Sweeney’s abilities.

Moore will also head to Hong Kong in the new year after the HK Jockey Club granted him a short-term licence to ride there for six weeks, starting on January 17.