Owned by Coolmore Stud, the long term aim was to retire him to stud and although his fracture had healed well, considerable investment continued to aid his laminitis recovery.

A representative from Coolmore commented:   ”Regretfully St Nicholas Abbey has lost his brave battle after suffering a colic this morning. Surgery revealed a severe strangulating colon torsion that was unviable and he had to be euthanised on humane grounds.

“This is extremely unfortunate as St Nicholas Abbey had been in terrific form, the laminitis was resolving very well and the fracture had healed better than expected.

“Coolmore would like to thank the surgeons, the international experts and all the staff at Fethard Equine Hospital who gave him such excellent care 24-7.

“We would also like to thank the multitude of well-wishers for all the cards and messages of support for St Nicholas Abbey. He will be buried in the graveyard here at Coolmore.”

St Nicholas Abbey won over 5 million pounds in prize money will be remembered for his great successes including perhaps the greatest historic victory of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs in USA under Joseph O’Brien who was only 18 at the time and the youngest jockey ever to win a breeders cup race.