Racing

Comfortable night for St Nicholas Abbey

Six-times Group One winner to undergo surgery on fractured pastern

St Nicholas Abbey will undergo surgery on a fractured pastern. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA
St Nicholas Abbey will undergo surgery on a fractured pastern. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA
Wed Jul 24 2013 - 10:24

St Nicholas Abbey is reported to have had “a comfortable night” ahead of surgery on a fractured pastern to be performed today.

The six-times Group One winner suffered the injury during a routine gallop at Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stables on Tuesday morning as he was being prepared for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

With his racing career now over due to the seriousness of the injury, owners John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith are hopeful their vets can save him for a stud career.

Coolmore tweeted: “St Nicholas Abbey has had a comfortable night at Fethard Equine Hospital. He undergoes surgery this morning and today will be critical for him.”