Nicholas doing well, but long road to recovery lies ahead
August 26, 2013A month on
from the dreadful injury that looked almost certain to claim his life, the
high-class middle-distance performer St Nicholas Abbey is reportedly “the best
he has been” since having two plates and 20 screws inserted into a shattered
leg, writes Elliot Slater.
Such a bad break inevitably results in a horse being euthanized, but connections of the three-time Group 1 Coronation Cup winner and 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf hero were prepared to go to any lengths to give the son of Montjeu even the slightest chance of survival. After a particularly complicated surgical procedure in which his life hung in the balance throughout, the six-year-old came through the operation only to be struck down with a severe case of colic just a few days later.
If the injury didn’t kill him then the colic was almost certain to finish the job, but once again the Aidan O’Brien-trained star showed the same fighting qualities that have made him an international racing betting champion and came through another critical illness.
Coolmore’s Twitter page recently reported, “The veterinary interns who are with him 24/7 described him today as the best he has been and the veterinary surgeons are equally happy.” The statement continued, “...his temperature remains normal, and his white blood cell count is good. St Nicholas Abbey is eating well and has put on a little weight.”
The final comment, relating to the weight gain, is the most significant of all, an indication that the horse who was also champion European two-year-old may well survive everything thrown at him of late and make it back to full health and a career as a stallion for the world-class Coolmore breeding empire. Though he will no longer trouble racing live betting, this was argualbly his greatest ever challenge and one that proves his class.
In all, the Ballydoyle-trained star won nine of his 21 career starts and just under £5 million is prize money.
Posted by Robert James.