Multiple grade I winner St Nicholas Abbey "continues to progress along the right lines" after undergoing two major operations, owner Coolmore Stud said in an update issued Aug. 1.
The 6-year-old son of Montjeu fractured a pastern on trainer Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle gallops July 23 and had surgery for the fracture at Fethard Equine Hospital on July 24. Two days later he colicked due to caecal shutdown, a condition affecting an area similar to the human appendix. According to Coolmore, this is an extremely painful condition.
The recent Coolmore update quoted an interview conducted with O'Brien by At The Races.
"Everybody is very happy. It's a day-to-day thing with him," O'Brien told the European racing channel. "He's had two massive surgeries and it's a credit to everybody he's doing as well as he is. It's so far, so good. Every week that goes by he's getting a shorter price to make it. Hopefully everything keeps going well. He's a magic horse."
In a July 27 bulletin, Coolmore said treatment for the caecal shutdown included intravenous feeding to fulfill daily nutrition requirements. The ownership group stated earlier that recovery from the emergency surgeries would be long and complicated.
Dr. Nathan Solvis, a medicine specialist from the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, arrived July 27 to oversee the horse's ongoing treatments.
"All surgeons are pleased with the progress he is making with his pastern reconstruction, and he is taking weight on the leg well," the July 27 Coolmore update said.
St Nicholas Abbey has nine wins, two seconds, and seven third-place finishes in 21 starts for earnings of $7,863,492. His victories include the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf, Investec Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup (three times), Racing Post Trophy, and Dubai Sheema Classic Presented by Longines, all grade or group I events.
