Kauto Star won the King George VI Chase on Tuesday, beating Exotic Dancer by eight lengths.
Kauto Star, the 4-7 favorite trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh, broke away from the pack after the next-to-last jump at Kempton Park course. The 6-year-old gelding almost fell at the last hurdle, but recovered to win the 200,000 pounds (euro297,900; US$391,000) in prize money.
"He's a machine _ I've never ridden a horse like him," Walsh said.
Racing Demon finished third, half a length behind Exotic Dancer.
Second-favorite Monet's Garden overtook Ollie Magern after the first mile to set the pace. The 8-year-old gray quickened down the straight, but Kauto Star, Racing Demon and Exotic Dancer stayed close.
Racing Demon moved past Monet's Garden, but Kauto Star stayed upright despite a stumble over the fourth-last steeple to hit the front and was never headed.
"It was a pretty bad mistake at the fourth-last," said Clive Smith, Kauto Star's owner. "He's obviously a tremendous horse and he's got a big heart and plenty of speed."
Kauto Star, who won the Betfair Chase on Nov. 18, has now taken two of the three legs needed to win 1 million pounds ($1.96 million; euro1.49 million). The third is the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 16.
Favorite Kauto Star wins King George VI Chase
