Updated 17.00
COOLMORE’S MULTIPLE GROUP 1 winner St Nicholas Abbey is to have surgery in a bid to save his life after a “serious career ending injury.”
The six-year-old fractured his pastern during a routine piece of work at trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle yard this morning.
He was taken to Fethard Equine Hospital, Tipperary where he is in “a comfortable condition” ahead of his scheduled surgery tomorrow, Coolmore said in an update issued shortly after 3.2opm.
A six-time Group 1 winner, St Nicholas Abbey was completing final preparations ahead of the showpiece King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, where he was due to go off favourite on Saturday.
Although Coolmore conceded immediately that the star colt’s racing career was over, they hope to be able to save him for a career at stud.
The son of Montjeu has been one of the stars for Coolmore and O’Brien in recent years, winning over €4.2 million in prize money.
He was last seen in Epsom at the start of June where he made history as the first horse to win the Investec Coronation Cup three times.
– Originally posted 10.34am
