St Nicholas Abbey is a thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

 racehorse

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

 trained by Aidan O'Brien

Aidan O'Brien

Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....

. He won Beresford Stakes

Beresford Stakes

The Beresford Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September or October....

 and Racing Post Trophy

Racing Post Trophy

The Racing Post Trophy is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October....

 in his two year old career, making him Europe's champion two year old. He started a short-priced favourite in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, but only finished sixth in what would be his only three year old start. Returning as a four year old in 2011, he was surprisingly beaten in the Alleged Stakes, but showed he retained his high class when easily winning the Ormonde Stakes

Ormonde Stakes

The Ormonde Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Chester over a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs and 89 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....

 and followed up by winning the Coronation Cup

Coronation Cup

The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....

 from Midday

Midday (horse)

Midday is a daughter of the top-class 2-year-old and sprinter Oasis Dream and is out of the Kingmambo mare Midsummer. To date, she has won 9 out of 20 starts, including the Group 1 Nassau Stakes three times , the Yorkshire Oaks, Prix Vermeille and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf...

. Placings in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix Foy, and a fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, preceded his biggest career win in the Breeders' Cup Turf

Breeders' Cup Turf

The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...

at Churchill Downs. He was ridden in the Breeders cup Turf by Joseph O'Brien - son of Aidan - who became the youngest jockey to win a Breeders Cup race.