Tribute to St Nicholas Abbey

The year 2009 is best remembered for the exploits of a marvellous race horse in Sea The Stars. When this world champion was nearing retirement, a young 2-year old colt by Montjeu was coming onto the scene. Trained by Aidan O'Brien for Coolmore who had been synonymous with offspring of Montjeu. This colt out of Leaping Water would later become a global sensation.

Two year old season:

Starting off as a 2yo in August St Nicholas Abbey won a Curragh maiden ridden at the time by Johnny Murtagh who at the time was the number one jockey for Coolmore. Returning over 4 weeks later at the Curragh he remained unbeaten winning his first stakes race in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes where he beat subsequent Group 1 winner Passion For Gold. St Nicholas Abbey then started favourite for the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in  England. He showed an explosive turn of foot to score by over 3 Lengths beating subsequent Craven stakes winner Elusive Pimpernel. He remained unbeaten as a juvenile and was quickly the hot favourite to win next year's 2,000 guineas.

Three year old season:

St Nicholas Abbey returned as a 3yo in 2010. Aidan O'Brien decided to send his unbeaten colt straight to the 2,000 guineas without a prep run. O'Brien had also entered Dewhurst runner Fencing Master and useful 2yo Viscount Nelson in the race. St Nicholas Abbey finished a well beaten sixth behind the winner Makfi. It was later announced post race that St Nicholas Abbey had picked up an injury and would be out for the remainder of the season.

Four year old season:

St Nicholas Abbey returned to racing in the Listed Alleged stakes in April 2011. In the event he was beaten for the 2nd time behind smart filly Unaccompanied. St Nicholas Abbey returned just over a month later to 

Chester in England. Starting out as the heavily backed favourite for the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes over 12F. He won by a cosily 9 Lengths ahead of subsequent Group 3 winner Allied Power. It was his first win since the Racing Post Trophy nearly two years previously. St Nicholas Abbey then went back to England in June to contest in his first Group 1 since the Guineas, the Coronation Cup. Travelling near the back of the pack he showed an explosive burst of acceleration up the hill to color in multiple Group 1 winning mare Midday on the line. It was a famous victory as St Nicholas Abbey had won his second Group 1.His next two starts at Group 1 level resulted in a 3rd placed finish behind Nathaniel in the Group 1 King George VI Queen Elizabeth stakes, followed by a 5th place behind Danedream in the Group 1 Prix De Arc De Triomphe. St Nicholas Abbey then went to America for the Breeders Cup. Running in the Group 1 Breeders Cup Turf, again travelling behind the leaders he came on the outside to finish like a train ahead of Group 1 winners Midday, Brilliant Speed and Sarafina. It was a memorable victory for the O'Briens as he had given young Joseph O'Brien his first Breeders Cup winner.

Five year old season:

Now the winner of three Group 1 races, St Nicholas Abbey's five year old season was much anticipated among racing fans. He was ridden in all his starts that year by Joseph O' Brien. Travelling to Meydan in March for the Dubai World Cup carnival St Nicholas Abbey just came up too short in the Dubai Sheema Classic beaten by Cirrus Des Aigles. Returning to The Curragh for an easy Group 3 race in the Mooresbridge Stakes, St Nicholas Abbey was beaten by his pacemaker Windsor Palace. Racing Fans were outraged at the ride he was given that day. After that shock defeat connections decided to attempt a second consecutive victory in the Coronation Cup at Epsom. St Nicholas Abbey duly obliged crossing the post 4 Lengths ahead of subsequent Melbourne Cup runner up Red Cadeaux. That proved to be his only win that year. But as always he showed real class and determination running some excellent races in defeat including 3rd in the King George to Danedream, 3rd in the Juddmonte International to Frankel, 3rd in the Irish Champion stakes to Snow Fairy and again 3rd behind Little Mike in the Breeders Cup Turf. 

Six year old season:

After his luckless run in the Breeders Cup, the public thought Coolmore would retire St Nicholas Abbey to stud, and surprised many when it was announced he would again stay in training. That decision proved to be worthwhile. St Nicholas Abbey got the ball rolling when running out an emphatic winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in the absence of Cirrus Des Aigles bagging his fifth Group 1 win, and beating Japanese champion filly Gentildonna. After Meydan St Nicholas Abbey travelled again to Epsom in June and made history by becoming the first horse ever to win three consecutive Coronation Cups. He had Group 1 Canadian International winner Joshua Tree and Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden behind him. 

King George Prep and Injury:

Connections were planning a third bid for the King George. St Nicholas Abbey had certainly looked better then ever this year. His preparation was all going to plan and he was made favourite for the King George ahead of Cirrus Des Aigles. However on the morning of Tuesday July 23rd 2013 while doing a routine piece of work St Nicholas Abbey broke down with a career ending injury. Coolmore later revealed the 6 times Group 1 winner had suffered a fractured pastern. Thankfully it seems he will make a recovery and will be prepped for surgery at Fetherd Equine Hospital tomorrow July 24th. He is said to be in a comfortable position. If he makes a full recovery it looks very likely that he will take up stud duties at Coolmore for 2014. St Nicholas Abbey retired as Europe's highest earning racehorse with earnings of nearly E5,000,000. He was a true racehorse winner of 6 Group 1 races in three continents Europe, Middle East and America. His explosive burst of acceleration was truly outstanding. He never ran a bad race and was only out of the frame three times in 21 career starts. A Truly outstanding record for a truly outstanding horse.