Kauto Star prepares to show off his new skills on big stage in Newbury

The 16-time Grade One winner and dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was retired from racing last October and has since been in the care of leading event rider Laura Collett.

Collet has been instructing the 13-year-old in the art of dressage along with British eventing chief Yogi Breisner, and Kauto Star will show off some of his new moves in a flat work demonstration prior to racing.

Kauto Star will appear in Berkshire as the British Equestrian Federation teams up with Newbury racecourse in a day that celebrates equestrianism.

“I’m delighted to be returning to Newbury to host a schooling session again as it gives racegoers such a great insight into what’s involved at the highest level in British Eventing,” said Breisner.

“This year we have the extra highlight of seeing Kauto Star. He is a wonderful example of the versatility of the thoroughbred horse and the excellent job done within the racing industry of Great Britain. Kauto Star will demonstrate how naturally racehorses adapt to life after racing.”

Collett will also stage a jumping masterclass aboard her top event horse Rayef while Deborah Criddle, Paralympic gold and silver medallist in dressage, will be among those adding her talents on the day.

The British Equestrian Federation and British Eventing have also announced that Philip Surl will be joining the UK Sport, lottery-funded BEF World Class Programme as assistant to the eventing performance manager Breisner.

The role will see Surl eventually taking on the running of the World Class Programme’s Eventing Equine Pathway and the Eventing Nations Cup Squad that will campaign the FEI’s new CICO3* series.

Surl, who competed up to 4* level as an eventing rider, is a UKCC Level 3 qualified coach and completed the coach development programme run by Breisner from 2005 to 2008. He is currently British Eventing’s Regional co-ordinator for the east region.