St Nic impresses again at Epsom St Nicholas Abbey was a convincing winner of his third Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom. The six-year-old is nearing £5million in career earnings and he arguably produced his most convincing of his three victories in the Coronation Cup where he justified his starting price of 3/10 favourite with the minimum of fuss. Chamonix and Chapter Seven fulfilled their obligations as pacemakers for the field, but as the remaining three riders engaged in a game of cat and mouse tactics in behind - it was Joseph O'Brien that was first to commit his mount for home after they had passed the three furlong pole. Produced to lead as they came to two out, the colt was asked to go about his business and he soon had his rivals put to the sword. Dunaden engaged in forlorn pursuit for a brief spell before Jamie Spencer accepted the situation in second while Joshua Tree was a remote third. O'Brien jnr said: "Whatever it is over the winter he's matured, he lobs down to the start on a long rein and you can put him where you like in his races. "On his blow at home the other morning he was exceptional, better than he has ever been. "He's a force to be reckoned with this year, I don't see why he can't be the best around over middle distances." Co-owner Derrick Smith said: "I loved him from the moment he first ran and I've loved him all the way through. "He disappointed in his three-year-old career but since then he's got better and better and, dare I say it, I think he's better than he ever was. "Obviously the King George comes to mind and we might go for the Hardwicke, we'll just keep running him as he's as good as he ever was." O'Brien snr said of St Nicholas Abbey: "He's an incredible horse and has everything you want in a racehorse, he quickens, he travels and is a joy to be around. "Everyone has done a good job with him at home and he's a privilege to be involved with. "Joseph said he has been very fresh the last few weeks and Chamonix leads him at home, which is why he ran. It's been a while since he ran. "He's a great traveller, comes down the hill well and slowly moves up the gears, it was great. "What everyone forgets is how much speed this lad showed as a two-year-old, he had that class all the time. "The lads said they might bring him back for Ascot, maybe the Hardwicke, on the way to the King George." Mikel Delzangles, trainer of Dunaden, said: "I think that's as good as he is compared to St Nicholas Abbey. He ran a good race, but that's it. "I don't think he'll go back to Australia but I don't know. Maybe the Arc."
