Injury Ends St Nicholas Abbey Career

Getty Images

St Nicholas Abbey's racing career is over after the horse suffered a serious injury at Ballydoyle on Tuesday.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained six-year-old was being prepared to race at the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot this weekend.

Owners John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith now hope he can be saved for a stud career.

Coolmore racing operation confirmed the news on its Twitter feed and said that "vets are currently attending to him".

It added: "We hope to save him for a career at stud, a further update will be posted later."

St Nicholas Abbey had won a third Coronation Cup at Epsom in June and is a six-times Group One winner.

Related articles

• St Nicholas still flying flag for Montjeu
• Hillstar Among 11 for King George
• Ruler Of The World says it all
• Ruler Of The World says it all
• Ruler Of The World gives Aidan O'Brien his fourth Epsom Derby victory
• Royal Ascot 2013: Mount Athos set to take on the Hardwicke Stakes after Chester triumph

Camelot Recovers After Surgery

Getty Images

Epsom Derby winner Camelot is recovering well after exploratory surgery for colic, his owners have announced.

A Coolmore Stud spokesman said: "He is doing great. The veterinary team are delighted with his progress to date."

The three-year-old was admitted to Fethard Veterinary Hospital in County Tipperary on Thursday.

Colic, an intestinal disorder, can prove fatal for horses without surgical intervention.

Camelot, ridden by Frankie Dettori, finished seventh in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

The colt was beaten in the St Leger by Encke in September, narrowly missing the chance to win the Triple Crown.

Camelot, trained by Aidan O'Brien, began the season with success in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, later adding the Derby at Epsom and the Irish Derby at the Curragh in June.

Related articles

• Camelot undergoes colic surgery
• Camelot undergoes surgery for potentially fatal condition
• Camelot undergoes exploratory surgery for colic
• Solemia Wins Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Horserace in Paris - Bloomberg
• Frankie Dettori will ride Camelot in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
• Frankie Dettori at career crossroads over Camelot ride for Coolmore

So It's Not What You Think at Sandown

Getty Images

Pre-race favourite So You Think is to miss the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

The 2011 winner, trained by Aidan O'Brien, was found to be lame in his stable on Thursday.

It was due to be So You Think's final run before being retired to stud in his native Australia.

The trainer's wife Anne-Marie said on Twitter: "So You Think was found to be lame in his stable a short time ago and will not run in the Eclipse."

So You Think, who beat Workforce in a thrilling finish to win the Coral-Eclipse last year, had been in outstanding form this season.

He won the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and then denied the Queen's horse Carlton House to win the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Saturday's Coral-Eclipse, which has attracted 10 runners, sees the return to the track of Dante Stakes scorer Bonfire, who was disappointing in the Epsom Derby, and Godolphin's Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso.

Tales of Camelot Continue at Curragh

Odds on favourite Camelot maintained his unbeaten record in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh - but was given a scare by Born To Sea.

Aidan O'Brien was winning the Classic for a remarkable seventh successive season and his latest star colt was always cantering under the trainer's son Joseph.

However when he was let down over a furlong out he jinked left and Johnny Murtagh attacked aboard the eventual runner-up.

For a stride or two he looked a genuine threat but Camelot soon had his measure and went on to win with authority by two lengths.

The winning trainer said: "We really felt it wasn't the right thing (to run on this ground) but he's a great horse.

"He's a real fast ground horse. We appreciate all the hard work everyone's put in, the sponsors, The Curragh - I can't say how thrilled we are to be part of it. It doesn't get any better than this. These are days you can't dream of.

"I never would have believed it could ever happen. He's by far the best we've had - we've never had anything like this.

"He had the speed to win the Guineas, the class to win the Derby and then he had to have class, courage and stamina to win today. Obviously the lads will speak about the Triple Crown now, wouldn't it be something to dream about?"

So You Think Ascot's a Winner

So You Think was a fantastic winner of the 150th Anniversary Of Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.

The High Chaparral horse was winning his fifth Group One in Europe since joining Ballydoyle and he did it in great style, seeing off the Queen's Carlton House with a thrilling late burst.

Joseph O'Brien was always going well just tracking his pacemaker Robin Hood and was noticeably on the bridle in the straight as the rest of the field were under pressure.

Ryan Moore switched Carlton House to the rail and hit the front momentarily before O'Brien really asked the 4-5 favourite to go and win his race.

That he did, by two and a quarter lengths, with Carlton House (7-2) holding on to second from the fast-finishing Farhh (6-1).

O'Brien snr said: "We expected a big run today, we felt like we had him in a place that he was never in before with us, which is incredible.

"I think we've had him a year and a half and it's taken me that long to learn how to train him.

"We went back and listened to what everybody was saying about him, listened to what Bart (Cummings, former trainer) was saying and telling us what to do and what not to do. We listened at the end.

"We felt he was in a place today he's never been in before.

"I was delighted to hear what Bart had to say as he was speaking from the heart and I was probably over-working the horse and galloping the speed out of him instead of letting him be natural.

"Everyone was of the opinion before we got him that he was all speed but I started off on the wrong leg with him and tried to make him stay a mile and a half and did too much with him.

"We knew we only had a few runs left (before retiring to stud), maybe today and Sandown (Eclipse) to get him back, so we listened to them and Joseph and the lads were confident it was going to come.

"It will be the boys decision when he goes to stud, but Sandown is in our head as a cut-off point. We'll be pleading hard now that we have him in this place but it's a business decision.

"We're just delighted to get him back and all I can say is sorry it took me so long to get him back to where everyone in Australia said he was. If he wasn't such a great horse I'd have made a right mess of him.

"He's one of those special horses that can travel and has class.

"We were delighted with the ride he got, Joseph knew what he wanted to do."

Winning rider O'Brien jnr said: "My horse relaxed lovely and quickened up very well.

"Ryan (Moore, on Carlton House) got a split on the inside and I just had to come around Johnny (Murtagh, on Big Blue Kitten) but once he could see the horse on his inside he was never going to be beat.

"I just wanted to get him into a rhythm and get him relaxed, he has loads of class and can quicken and when things work out he's an exceptional horse.

"It's been a great season and I'm very lucky to get to ride some exceptional horse. I owe a big thanks to Mr and Mrs Magnier, Mr and Mrs Tabor and Mr and Mrs Smith for giving me some nice opportunities."

Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Carlton House, said: "He couldn't get enough cover as he was a bit off the fence but he was second best, it's as simple as that.

"Ryan gave him a great ride, he had every chance but he just found one too good."

Saeed bin Suroor said of Farhh: "We are delighted with him, he had been physically weak which is why he hasn't had many runs, but he's much stronger this year and when he won easily at Thirsk we thought he would be up to running in Group One races.

"He has shown today he is good enough for those races between 10 and 12 furlongs. We might look at the King George for him."

Alain de Royer-Dupre said of fourth home Reliable Man: "The horse has now come back to what he was last year. He needs races with lots of pace and we'll go for other top 10-furlong races now - we'll probably go for the Juddmonte at York."

No Bonfire in Camelot Victory Tale

Aidan O'Brien's Camelot was a brilliant winner of the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday.

The 8-13 favourite was held up in the early stages by the trainer's son Joseph, as stablemate Astrology took them along at a sensible gallop with Thought Worthy keeping him company.

For a moment in the straight it looked as though Astrology might've nicked it under Ryan Moore, but Camelot came with a withering late run to land the spoils.

He was five lengths ahead of the staying-on Main Sequence (9-1) at the line, with Astrology (13-2) a short head back in third.

Special

The winning jockey said: "I was a bit worried as he didn't come down the hill at all. He didn't handle the track that well, so he did well to win.

"He's a very special horse and I'm just very fortunate to be on his back. I owe a big thanks to the owners and everyone in the yard."

Anne-Marie O'Brien, wife of the trainer and Joseph's mother, said: "I can't believe it, it's amazing.

"I met Lester Piggott last weekend and he said to tell Joseph not to be in any hurry (in the race).

"I'm really thrilled, it's incredible."

Camelot could now bid to become the first horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to land the Triple Crown with victory in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster in September.

Part-owner Derrick Smith, seeing his colours carried to a first Epsom Derby win, said: "This is the one everyone wants in racing. To win the Epsom Derby is a dream come true.

"What a horse, what a ride. You could see from the three pole it was all over.

"It (the Triple Crown) must be (on the agenda), mustn't it, we might get pressurised into it, but we will talk with Aidan and make the right decision."

Coolmore supremo John Magnier said: "It (Camelot's brilliance) is there for everyone to see and we are fortunate to have anything to do with him, and it's particularly important in the year his father (Montjeu) died.

"We are going to have to take it race by race and give it lots of thought.

"Wouldn't anybody (be tempted by the Triple Crown)? These things get to mean more as you get older, if you had asked me 30 years ago I might have looked the other way, but we will have to see what Derrick (Smith) and Michael (Tabor) say about it."

O'Brien senior said: "You can't even dream of days like this. "I was always happy, I know his (Joseph's) body language by now and he looked confident.

"No-one can describe the feeling, things like this don't happen.

"We'll give the Triple Crown a lot of thought and the boys will make a decision and do whatever is best for the horse.

"The Triple Crown would be incredible."

Lanigan said of Main Sequence: "He's run a great race and to come second in a Derby with my first runner is amazing.

"It's been a long lead up but he settled well and did everything right.

"I don't know where he'll go next, I'll see what Ted (Durcan, jockey) and the owners say."

Astrology was ridden by Ryan Moore, who said: "He's run a good race but just got tired in the last 150 yards."

William Buick was fourth on Thought Worthy for John Gosden and said: "I was very happy with him, he'll make a lovely Leger horse."

Gosden said: "He ran how I thought he might. He's finished fourth like his brother (Lucarno) and he'll do like his brother and head for the Leger."

Paul Hanagan was fifth on the Richard Fahey-trained Mickdaam and said: "He came home really well but didn't handle the track and didn't have the pace early in the race."

Fahey said: "He could be a Leger horse, but on the day he wasn't good enough. He needs a break."

The much-fancied Bonfire was sixth and his trainer Andrew Balding said: "He didn't handle the track and he came down the hill on one leg. He might not have stayed, either. He's in the Eclipse and could go there."

Montjeu Passes Away

Montjeu, the sire of three Epsom Derby winners, has died aged 16 after a short illness.

Winner of six Group One races on the track, the stallion developed into one of the world’s leading sires for Coolmore, producing numerous top-class runners.

A statement from Coolmore said on Thursday: “Montjeu, the highest-rated racehorse ever by the great Sadler’s Wells, has died this morning at Coolmore Stud after a short illness which was due to complications from an overwhelming septicaemia.”

Montjeu retired to stud at the end of 2000 after a racing career that saw him land the 1999 French and Irish Derbies, as well as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

He was also an electrifying winner of the 2000 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes before retiring to the paddocks.

Coolmore’s statement continued: “The sire of three Epsom Derby winners, including last year’s brilliant winner Pour Moi, as well as Camelot, the favourite for this year’s edition, Montjeu was one of the best stallions in the world and in 2011 he sired 15 individual Group/Graded winners in the northern hemisphere, which was the equal of Galileo.

“Montjeu will best be remembered for his incredible wins in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes as well as his runaway victories in the French and Irish Derbies.”

Motivator became a first Derby winner for Montjeu when landing the Epsom Classic in 2005, while Authorized followed up two years later.

French raider Pour Moi then added to the tally with his victory in 2011.

Montjeu has provided a stream of Group One winners for the Coolmore team of John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, in whose colours he raced.

Other Group One-winning progeny in Europe include 2005 Irish Derby winner Hurricane Run, Ascot Gold Cup victor Fame And Glory, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf hero St Nicholas Abbey and St Leger winner Masked Marvel.

He also sired the 2011 Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly.

Montjeu’s stud fee was as high as €125,000 in 2008 and his last published price was €75,000 in 2011.

His fee for this term was listed as private.

John Hammond trained Montjeu to win 11 of his 16 starts, with four back-to-back Group One victories in 1999 and three successive wins, including the King George, at the highest level in 2000.

Speaking in 2009, Hammond pinpointed that Ascot victory as possibly Montjeu’s finest hour on the track.

He said: “I think his King George run has to be rated as his best.

“I made a mistake two days before he won the Arc by taking him out of the Champion Stakes at Newmarket but he was so well he could have gone for it.

“In the King George he was really on top of his game.

“Occasionally with certain horses they have a level of fitness and performance that is very difficult to achieve on more than one or two occasions, and that was his day.”

Mick Kinane rode Montjeu to five victories, including in the 1999 Arc and the King George.

He said: “He was a really outstanding racehorse – one of the few outstanding racehorses I’ve ridden.

“That King George win was pretty good all right. He treated them with contempt that day and it was just a privilege to be on board.

“He had some other good performances in the Irish Derby and the Arc, and he’s obviously going to be sadly missed.

“He had an aura about him and a few issues, and the great horses he’s sired have all had that as well – that’s what’s made them great.

“His fillies have been much better of late as well and I think he’s going to end up being an outstanding broodmare stallion.

“He’s going to leave a big hole in racing.”

O'Brien and Godolphin Dominate Entries

Trainer Aidan O'Brien and the Godolphin team dominate a 70-strong entry for the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6.

O'Brien is responsible for 10 of the possibles at this stage, including the unbeaten filly Maybe, winner of the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes on her final outing last term.

The Ballydoyle handler, who saddled Virginia Waters to victory in 2005, also has eyecatching Rockfel Stakes winner Wading in his team at this stage along with relatively unknown quantities such as Kissed and Twirl and Breeders' Cup fourth Up.

Godolphin claimed the prize with Blue Bunting in 2011 and have leading hopes in the unbeaten duo of Discourse and Lyric Of Light.

Discourse's two victories both came on Newmarket's July Course and included the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes, while Lyric Of Light's three successes culminated with a victory over the course and distance in the Group One Fillies' Mile last September.

Another Godolphin entry is last year's Cherry Hinton Stakes heroine Gamilati, who already has a Guineas victory to her name, having taken the UAE version in great style at Meydan last month.

All of Godolphin's contenders are trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni.