Breeders' Cup winner St Nicholas Abbey retired

By: SPORTS NETWORK

(Sports Network) - Former Breeders' Cup Turf winner St Nicholas Abbey suffered a career ending injury Tuesday morning in Ireland and has been retired.

Coolmore Stud reported the injury on its Twitter page.

"St Nicholas Abbey suffered a serious career ending injury at Ballydoyle this morning, vets are currently attending to him."

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, St Nicholas Abbey suffered a fractured pastern while training at Ballydoyle in preparation for a stakes on Saturday in England. He was transported to Fethard Equine Hospital in "comfortable condition" and will have surgery there Wednesday morning.

The 6-year-old won the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2011 and last year finished third, both times with the trainer's son Joseph as the jockey.

This year he won both starts, including the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 30.

St Nicholas Abbey earned $7,863,492 with nine wins in 21 career starts.