FETHARD, Ireland, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- St Nicholas Abbey, an international champion thoroughbred, was euthanized Tuesday after a six-month battle with injury and illness.
The 7-year-old developed inoperable colic, according to a statement from Coolmore, his owners. The colic was the final straw in a series of misfortunes that began with a career-ending injury this summer while training. Most recently, St Nicholas Abbey had been recovering well from a life-threatening bout with laminitis, a hoof ailment.
"Coolmore would like to thank the surgeons, the international experts and all the staff at Fethard Equine hospital, who gave him such excellent care 24/7," the organization said in a statement. "We would also like to thank the multitude of well-wishers for all the cards and messages in support of St Nicholas Abbey. He will be buried in the graveyard here at Coolmore."
St Nicholas Abbey was a son of Montjeu out of the Sure Blade mare Leaping Water and would have been an outstanding stallion prospect for Coolmore.
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He won nine of his 21 starts and finished worse than third only three times, earning more than $8 million. He won his last two starts, the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan last March and the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Ascot on June 1. That was his third victory in the Coronation Cup.
He also won the Grade I Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs in 2011 and the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in 2009 as a 2-year-old.
St Nicholas Abbey was trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden for most of his final two seasons by the trainer's son, Joseph.
