Nine British classics have been run since the last winner trained by Aidan O'Brien. It represents a rare hiatus for the Ballydoyle stable and explains why its principal investors will sleep better through the winter after the scintillating victory of St Nicholas Abbey at Doncaster on Saturday.

How galling for John Magnier and his Coolmore cohorts - though refreshing for the sport itself - that the past two Flat seasons have been dominated by Irish colts from other yards. Jim Bolger and John Oxx must have savoured defeating their rich neighbours but they will know the old order may soon be restored.

Two things embellish the visual splendour of St Nicholas Abbey's Racing Post Trophy. Without him, Elusive Pimpernel would himself have been an impressive winner, while Johnny Murtagh suggested afterwards that his mount is better even than his beloved Rip Van Winkle.

There are cautionary elements. Crowded House looked pretty special in the same race a year ago but has failed to win since. Sanity warns against rushing to back St Nicholas Abbey for the Derby at the miserly 2-1 offered by Stan James.

Murtagh's confidence, holding up his colt in rear before scything a path as if through a pack of selling platers, will be the abiding memory. The stable also provided three of the first four in the Dewhurst Stakes a week earlier, so Ballydoyle will retire to winter routines with a potentially mighty hand for the classics.

Godolphin, too, have much to anticipate. Al Zir was a respectable third on Saturday but 60 juvenile winners tell of a stable with its best raw material for many years. New Approach and Sea The Stars have provided welcome change but there is every indication that the superpowers of the Flat will resume traditional combat next summer.