Following in the footsteps of some of the world’s greatest athletes, a set of gold shoes have been commissioned in honour of horseracing royalty Kauto Star.

Inspired by the likes of Michael Johnson, Usain Bolt and David Beckham, Betfair has created an exclusive set of gold horseshoes for the staying chaser ahead of his bid for a record fifth victory at the King George VI Chase.

The bespoke horseshoes took former Royal farrier (a specialist in equine foot care) Michael Jones two weeks to create. The 13 carat hoofwear have been made to celebrate Kauto Star’s achievements in the gallops. The one-off designs will be given to Kauto Star’s Champion National Hunt trainer, Paul Nicholls, as a gift ahead of his Boxing Day race.

Michael Jones commented: “This is the first time I’ve made horseshoes out of gold. The process was much more intricate than normal. It was a real test of my craftsmanship, but I think these hooves are fit for a King.”

Betfair’s Alex Bake said: “Kauto Star’s achievements quite easily match those of his human contemporaries. What better way to celebrate his successes than with a set of golden shoes. Everyone at Betfair hopes they can inspire him to victory at Kempton on Boxing Day.”