Kauto Star has earned his special place in the hearts of racing fans Yet in the year when his jumping rose to fresh heights it was a mishap over schooling fences that threatens to consign him to retirement. Kauto Star is the horse who stops the nation, defying the laws of age with his brilliance. A late-career flourish was taking him to the Cheltenham Festival as the restored king of the equine world. When the news broke, with a familiar brief flash of words on Twitter, the spirits sank. The rematch between him and Long Run, last year's Gold Cup winner, was shaping up to be the decider. The old champion had beaten the new horse on the block twice this season (in the Betfair Chase and Kempton's King George VI Chase) and the latest instalment was to be the headline act at this year's Festival, which starts on March 13th. A popular line is that these great animals become "public property." They become objects of adoration, which is not the same as ownership. But they do attract extraordinary followings, as anyone who saw him win the King George five times on Boxing Day will testify. That final victory, two months ago, surpassed even Desert Orchid's record in the race. A third Gold Cup was beyond the reach of dreams - but looked like a strong possibility, until he hit the turf of Somerset on a practice run. No one involved in his story will want to risk violating the final image of his fifth Kempton triumph. Even now, after yesterday's dark bulletin, the thrill of watching him line-up at Cheltenham would be diluted by trepidation. The Nicholls statement laid the ground for an honourable retreat while also emphasising the horse's powers of recovery. Funny the effect they have on you. Watching Kauto Star on the racecourse or even in his box in Ditcheat was, for me, a pilgrimage: a complete summary of racing's charm. It all turns to memories anyway, and these are already safe forever.