Long-time favourite will not run at Epsom
1st June 2010
St Nicholas Abbey will not run in the Investec Derby at Epsom after suffering a muscle injury in a hind quarter.
The three-year-old, who was a long-time favourite for the event, did not impress jockey Johnny Murtagh in a work-out on Friday and further problems were revealed in a scan on Tuesday morning.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien has now been forced to rest his charge and the event on Saturday will come too soon for the colt.
"St Nicholas Abbey was due to work first thing this morning, however when he came out of his box we noticed he was stiff behind," O'Brien told coolmore.com.
Stiff
"He had looked slightly stiff yesterday evening. His work on Friday last was a little lacklustre for him and that was the first time we had seen anything different, but he was fine afterwards.
"He was immediately examined and scanned by our vets this morning.
"They found a slight muscle injury high up in his hind quarter. This meant he could not work today and we were advised to give him an easy few days.
"Obviously this will preclude him from running in the Investec Derby on Saturday.
"We always thought St Nicholas Abbey could walk on water and it is very unfortunate for all concerned to have a setback like this so close to the big race."
St Nicholas Abbey was heading into the Investec Derby having finished sixth behind Makfi in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas following an unbeaten 2009.
O'Brien still holds a strong hand of Epson, with Jan Vermeer now the favourite.