St Nicholas lands second Coronation Cup

St Nicholas Abbey first, the rest nowhere in this afternoon’s Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup (sponsored by Investec). Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Frankel aside, there will be few easier QIPCO British Champions Series race winners than St Nicholas Abbey’s stroll in this afternoon’s Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup (sponsored by Investec), the first race in the Middle Distance category of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

Having won the race a year ago and followed that up with victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs at the end of last year, he was fully entitled to start the odds-on favourite today and there was never a moment of concern for his supporters.

Switched off at the back of the field as his stablemate, Robin Hood, set the pace, St Nicholas Abbey was always travelling easily under Joseph O’Brien.

He began his move as they rounded Tattenham Corner and cruised into the lead two furlongs out.

He was soon clear and came home four and half lengths ahead of the staying on Red Cadeaux, who ran another fine race after his Sportingbet Yorkshire Cup victory in the Long Distance division last month.

Last year’s Ladbrokes St Leger winner, Masked Marvel, was a further three and a quarter lengths back in third, with Quest For Peace close behind in fourth.

There was a long gap to the disappointing Beaten Up in fifth, with pacemaker Robin Hood in last place.

The winning trainer, Aidan O’Brien, winning his fourth Series race of the year so far, said: "He settled lovely and got into a great rhythm.

"Joseph just didn’t break it then when he started to come, so it was great.

"He has the option of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot and he has the option of the King George, then obviously there is the Arc at the end of the year. He’s a very exciting horse."

Part-owner Derrick Smith said: "He’s just vindicated everything we knew about him.

"It was a procession really. It was very, very impressive."

The winning jockey said: "When he goes to sleep early in his races, he’s a very special horse. He has always shown a lot of ability and he’s really coming back to his old form.

"I got to the front too soon as he picked up going past the four-furlong marker and I didn’t want to disappoint him.

"When he relaxes and quickens up like that, it takes a very good one to go near him."