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St Nick gives O'Brien family an historic gift in Turf
Campaigned by Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor, St Nicholas Abbey was part of a formidable five-strong European invasion force in the Turf. Europe's unbeaten champion juvenile of 2009 was out of action for nearly all of 2010, and had mixed results this season, which contributed to his 6-1 price on Saturday. But the long well-regarded colt turned in a devastating performance here, helping to restore his public reputation that had taken some knocks. The younger O'Brien rode a patient race aboard St Nicholas Abbey, who was about three lengths off the pace. In something of a plot twist, his stablemate Await the Dawn went forward and carved out splits of :24 4/5, :50, 1:14 3/5 and 1:39 4/5. Dean's Kitten, on paper the leading American hope, pressed the leader. Midday was in a good stalking position, along with the American sophomore Brilliant Speed. French invader Sarafina, the 2-1 favorite, was rank early, but ultimately settled. Turning into the stretch for the final time, Brilliant Speed unleashed a bold bid to defend the American turf. He took command through 1 1/4 miles in 2:05 1/5 and inched away in midstretch. Sea Moon, who had made a good-looking move into contention, was temporarily caught for speed. Even Sarafina looked uncharacteristically one-paced. Meanwhile, O'Brien had angled St Nicholas Abbey to the outside for clear run. As soon as he lengthened his massive stride, St Nicholas Abbey overwhelmed the three-year-olds and stamped his authority by a widening margin. The convincing winner stopped the teletimer in 2:28 4/5 on the good turf and rewarded his loyalists with $15.60, $7.20 and $5.40. Sea Moon eventually mastered Brilliant Speed by a length for second. Another three lengths adrift, Sarafina crossed the wire fourth. Next came a gap of 6 1/4 lengths back to Stately Victor, who was trailed by Midday, Await the Dawn, Teaks North and Dean's Kitten. "We're pleased with him," trainer Sir Michael Stoute said of Sea Moon. "He's a progressing horse that hopefully has a bright future. On the day, he found a more mature horse that was better than he was. But we're proud of him." "He did it so easy," Brilliant Speed's trainer Tom Albertrani said. "Coming into the stretch, I thought we were home. He was so sharp. I knew I had him razor sharp. It was a good effort. We'll definitely bring him back next year. He's maturing all the time." "The trip was a bit long for her on that kind of ground," jockey Christophe Lemaire said of Sarafina's flat effort. "Soft ground. It's quite soft. I was in a spot where I could improve my position without any effort, but when I put her out, she couldn't quicken really, like she's used to doing on good ground."
"I think he was a little better going left-handed here than right-handed in the Arc. The Arc was a rough race and sometimes the best horse doesn't always win. He traveled well today and looked great and picked up great." St Nicholas Abbey capped a fantastic American season for Ballydoyle. Cape Blanco was a perfect three-for-three in the United States, sweeping the Grade 1 Man o' War, Grade 1 Arlington Million and Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational. The three-year-olds Treasure Beach and Together did their bit, winning the Grade 1 Secretariat and Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, respectively. Earlier on Saturday, Wrote dominated the Juvenile Turf. Bred by Barton Bloodstock and Villiers Synd. in Ireland, St Nicholas Abbey was a $366,366 Tattersalls October yearling. He is a half-brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Grammarian, out of the unraced Sure Blade mare Leaping Water. His dam is a half-sister to four notable performers -- Irish highweight Ballingarry, victor of the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in 2001 and the Grade 1 Canadian International in 2002; Starborough, who landed the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat and Group 1 St James's Palace in 1997; Aristotle, winner of the 1999 Racing Post Trophy; and French Group 3 scorer Spanish Falls. St Nicholas Abbey's plans are pending. "It's very simple," Coolmore's M.V. Magnier said. "We're going to fly home the next couple of days, see how he is, and we'll make decisions from there."
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