Last week it was announced that Kicking King has been retired after persistent injury problems. Kicking King is currently ten years of age but was plagued by a tendon injury, which kept the Irish chaser out of the racing scene for over 750 days.

Although he managed to make some sort of comeback from this injury, he was sadly unable to recover to full fitness and it was decided that the chaser should be retired. Kicking King failed to show the form he was previously famous for during his following four races and it may have been cruel to prolong the career of the horse, who has had a truly distinguished career.

Kicking King won on his debut in racing, with a victory at Leopardstown. He was also victorious in the Cheltenham Gold Cup back in 2005 and overall, he managed to win twelve out of the twenty-eight races he competed in.

The horse’s owner, Conor Clarkson, revealed his disappointment at the fact that Kicking King will race no more but also spoke of his pride at the horse’s magnificent career. Clarkson believes that the horse was a “wonderful chaser to have had” and Kicking King can now look forward to a very relaxing and “happy retirement”.

Clarkson was quick to name the Cheltenham Gold Cup victory as a highlight in the career of Kicking King but he remembers the horse’s debut win fondly as well.

As a young horse, the owners felt he was generally very good but his debut performance showed that he was “well above average”. The glowing words from Conor Clarkson were echoed by the horse’s trainer, Tom Taaffe.

He believes that Kicking King was a “great ambassador” for the world of horse racing and he will remain so despite his retirement. Taaffe believes that the decision to retire the horse is a good one and has spoken about the potential for him to “enjoy some ridden show classes” over the coming year.

The unbeaten filly, Zarkava, has been handed the accolade of Horse of the Year at the Cartier Racing Awards. In winning the award, she managed to beat Raven’s Pass (who won the Breeders’ Cup), New Approach, Duke of Marmalade (who managed to win the older horse award), and Henrythenavigator.

Zarkava, who is three years of age, won all the races she started this year and also two races as a juvenile. The recipients of the awards were chosen by readers of the Daily Telegraph and the Racing Post, as well as by racing journalists. The points won in certain important races were also taken into account when the individuals made the decisions.

Zarkava, who was victorious in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, has been described by her owner, the Aga Khan, as a “supreme athlete”. Her owner made the decision to retire her to stud during October and the young filly was also victorious in the three-year-old filly award. Her victory in this category left Goldikova, Halfway To Heaven, Natagora, and Lush Lashes disappointed.

New Approach, who was beaten by Zarkava in the Horse of the Year award, was provided with some consolation in the form of the three-year-old colt award. Last year, New Approach, who has been trained by Jim Bolger, was awarded the two-year-old colt award.

Some of the other winners at the awards included Mastercraftsman, who won the award given to New Approach last year, and Rainbow View who won the equivalent prize for the fillies. Marchand d’Or was named the top sprinter, whilst Yeats was awarded the stayer award for the third year running.

The Melbourne Cup has been won by Viewed, who was ridden by Blake Shinn at Flemington. A tight finish saw Viewed up against Luca Cumani’s Bauer and C’est La Guerre, who is being trained by John Sadler. Bauer eventually finished just behind Viewed, whilst C’est La Guerre claimed third place.

Master O’Reilly finished behind C’est La Guerre, Dermot Weld’s Profound Beauty finished fifth and British-trained Mad Rush, who started as favourite to triumph in the event, could only manage to finish in seventh place.

The exciting finish looked unlikely for the majority of the race. Blake Shinn gradually guided Viewed to the front just two furlongs from the end and victory looked certain. However, Corey Brown managed to guide Bauer through on the outside and the race ended in a dramatic photo-finish.

Blake Shinn was modest at the end of the race and stated that he was not entirely happy with his overall performance. Shinn revealed that he reached the front "way too early” but added that he was “delighted” at the end result. Worryingly for his competitors, he added that “the best is yet to come” and he remains ambitious for future success.

Shinn’s good performance handed Bart Cummings, who began training in 1953, his twelfth Melbourne Cup victory. His first came in 1965 with a victory from Light Fingers. Cummings, who will celebrate his eighty-first birthday later this month, was ecstatic after the race and was particularly happy at seeing the Aussies succeed "not only in racing but in cricket”.