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The life of triple Coronation Cup winner St Nicholas Abbey hangs in the balance, due a "major setback" in his recovery
The six-year-old stallion had surgery for a fractured pastern earlier this week. The injury occured during a routine workout on the gallops at Ballydoyle, the base of Irish champion trainer Aidan O’Brien.
Then earlier today (Friday 26 July) he suffered a bout of colic while recuperating from the operation.
“St Nicholas Abbey had a major setback in his recovery, suffering from a bad colic,” tweeted owners Coolmore. “He had emergency surgery on Friday.
“The prognosis is very guarded at the moment.”
St Nicholas Abbey had been favourite for Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
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Flora Watkins spent several years working for BBC News before moving into print, first as a staffer at Horse & Hound, before going freelance.