I AM only 26, but I doubt I will ever see the equivalent of Kauto Star on a racecourse in my lifetime.

The wonder of Ditcheat was finally retired this week, bringing a tear to my eye.

Mixed feelings prevailed, sadness because the veteran is not going to be seen out again, but delight he is safe and sound.

Many people, including myself in this column, called on trainer Paul Nicholls to retire the 12-year-old last season, with the belief he had served his time at the top.

But if there was ever a glorious comeback in sport, his was it, and he proved us doubters wrong.

He was still the King.

An incredible fourth victory in the Betfair Chase was soon followed by a history making fifth King George, the best Christmas present for any horse-racing fan.

That and not his final race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, will live long in the memory as a passing gift to his legions of fans.

Sixteen grade one wins, including two Cheltenham Gold Cups and Tingle Creeks made him the legend he is.

His history making successes were hunted by the media, despite racing rarely making the BBC national news.

But like Frankel, the Flat racing machine who retired just last month, the veteran was capable of achieving the impossible, like winning top class races at two and three miles.

Perhaps Kauto’s connections were waiting for the hype to die down over Henry Cecil’s super beast before declaring his career over once and for all.

There was not an inkling from Nicholls at Chepstow Racecourse on Saturday, but it has been in the pipeline for a while now.

In my mind, there’s no doubt the team and owner Clive Smith had the horse’s best interests at heart.

It was a careful balancing act, his brilliance made him seem younger than his 12 years, and he seemed ready to race on year after year.

He was the public’s horse and the word breathtaking perfectly sums him up.

Crowds gasped at last fence blunders in the King George which became his trademark.

But they too watched in awe as he sauntered clear by 36 lengths in the 2009 renewal, arguably his best ever performance.

But realistically, we are lucky to have had him around at all.

Mr Smith hoped to buy another horse Garde Champetre instead, but racing fans will be forever grateful he was outbid at auction and moved on to buy Kauto.

And his success has not come without a few scrapes, a shocking fall in the 2010 Gold Cup and at home before this year’s contest could have cost him his life.

I am lucky enough to have met the old boy and his old sidekick Denman and I tell you he is the biggest show-off.

As the media camp descended on Somerset two years ago, he lapped up the attention in a ‘look at me’ style.

I will be forever grateful to Kauto for giving me the chance to watch and write about a sporting hero and his greatness goes down in history.

All’s left to say is thanks Ruby and Kauto for the last nine years of magic.

Enjoy your well-deserved retirement, you superstar.