[5] As a yearling, he was consigned by the Oaks Farm Stud to the Tattersalls sales in October 2008 where he was bought for 200,000 guineas by the bloodstock agent Demi O'Byrne on behalf of John Magnier's Coolmore organisation.

After his win, O'Brien called the colt "very exciting and one to look forward to" while the bookmaker Paddy Power made him 8/1 favourite for the following year's Epsom Derby.

Marcus Armytage in the Daily Telegraph described the performance as "hugely impressive" and identified St Nicholas Abbey as a potential successor to the recently retired Sea the Stars.

In March, St Nicholas Abbey performed impressively in a public trial at the Curragh, finishing clear of several other O'Brien-trained three-year-olds.

[18] St Nicholas Abbey made his three-year-old debut in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket on 1 May and started evens favourite against eighteen opponents.

He appeared to be outpaced in the closing stages and finished sixth behind Makfi, Dick Turpin, Canford Cliffs, Xtension and Elusive Pimpernel.

[21] St Nicholas Abbey was expected to return for a race at the Curragh in October, but was withdrawn, with O'Brien describing him as "not quite ready" although there was some speculation that his failure to run was motivated by a desire to protect his stud value.

[22] In his first race for eleven months, St Nicholas Abbey started odds-on favourite for the Listed Alleged Stakes over ten furlongs at the Curragh, but finished third to the mare Unaccompanied.

[25] St Nicholas Abbey then finished third to Nathaniel and Workforce in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and third again to Sarafina and Hiruno d'Amour in the Prix Foy at Longchamp Racecourse.

St Nicholas Abbey overtook the American colt Brilliant Speed inside the final furlong and quickly drew clear to win by two and a half lengths from Sea Moon.

He produced what the Irish Independent described as "a brilliant turn of foot"[30] to take the lead and went clear of his opponents to win by four and a half lengths from Red Cadeaux and Masked Marvel.

In the International Stakes at York in August, racing over ten and a half furlongs, he was beaten seven lengths by the winner Frankel and lost second place by a nose to Farhh.

St Nicholas Abbey ran again over ten furlongs in the Irish Champion Stakes on 8 September when he finished third to Snow Fairy and Nathaniel.

[33] In July St Nicholas Abbey was aimed at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and was made the ante-post favourite ahead of Cirrus des Aigles, Trading Leather and Novellist.

Coolmore released details of the surgical procedures: twenty screws and a steel pin had been inserted into St Nicholas Abbey's leg and a bone-graft from the horse's hip had been used to improve blood supply to the afflicted limb.