St Nicholas Abbey takes the Investec Coronation Cup

St Nicholas Abbey beats Midday in the Investec Coronation Cup.  Image courtesy of Racingfotos.com.

St Nicholas Abbey, from whom so much had been expected last season, showed his true colours at Epsom this afternoon, winning the Investec Coronation Cup, the first race in the Middle Distance division of the QIPCO British Champions Series, by a length from the gallant mare, Midday.

After a brilliant season as a two-year-old in 2009, he started a hot favourite for last year’s 2000 Guineas, but could only finish sixth and was not seen on a racecourse again until this April.

That was an uninspiring effort in soft ground in Ireland, but he came good last time out at Chester in May, winning the Ormonde Stakes easily. It was, however, a big step up from that Group 3 race at Chester to Group 1 level this afternoon.

Despite looking ill at ease on the undulations of Epsom’s famous track, St Nicholas Abbey stayed on resolutely inside the final furlong for jockey Ryan Moore to overhaul Midday, who had looked sure to win when she went for home with more than a quarter of a mile to run in the mile-and-a-half contest.

"It was a slowly-run race but Ryan knew where he wanted to be and the horse has a big heart,” said a delighted trainer, Aidan O’Brien.

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday 23 July, another key race in the QIPCO British Champions Series Middle Distance category, could be his next target.

The British Horseracing Authority’s Senior Handicapper, Phil Smith, felt that Midday did not run to her best in a muddling race which lacked early pace.

“I will rate the race through the third horse, Clowance," explained Smith. "The best that I have had her in the past was 112 and that is probably what I will put her back up to on today’s run (she is currently rated 110).

“That would put Midday on about 115, fully six pounds below her best, and St Nicholas Abbey perhaps on 120. That’s also below his best, but I don’t think that the track suited him.”

To hear Aidan O’Brien’s interview after the race courtesy of Racing UK Radio, CLICK HERE.

For the full race result, CLICK HERE.