Epsom Derby

racing news/

St Nicholas Abbey Out of Derby
01/06/10

St Nicholas Abbey has suffered a setback and will not run in the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday.

Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old was found to have suffered a slight muscle injury in a hind quarter. The long-time ante-post favourite for the premier Classic had failed to impress jockey Johnny Murtagh in a workout last Friday.

The trainer told www.coolmore.com: "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."

He continued: "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 a brilliant winner of last year's Racing Post Trophy, extending his unbeaten juvenile record to three. He returned to the track last month in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas, in which he finished a satisfactory sixth behind Makfi.

O'Brien still holds a strong hand at Epsom, however, with new favourite Jan Vermeer the subject of a sustained gamble over the last few days. The impressive Gallinule Stakes scorer could be joined in the final line-up by stablemates Midas Touch, Cape Blanco, At First Sight and Bright Horizon.

St Nicholas Abbey's defection was branded by bookmakers William Hill as a "£3m body-blow to punters". Spokesman David Hood said: "St Nicholas Abbey had been the long-time favourite for the Derby ever since his win in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last October.

"Of course, ante-post liabilities are only a fraction of what is incurred on the day, but we estimate punters would already have stood to win in excess of £3m across the industry."