Pompeii Ruler, one of the favourites for Saturday week's W.S Cox Plate, has suffered another serious leg injury and will miss the rest of the Spring Carnival.
The six-year-old gelding only resumed from a twelve month lay-off in August but after running second in the Underwood Stakes behind Weekend Hussler and second again on Saturday to Douro Valley in the Yalumba Stakes appeared to be on the verge of re-capturing his best form just in time for Australia's weight-for-age championship.
But Pompeii Ruler, who finished third in the Cox Plate in 2006 and also won the 2007 Australian Cup at Flemington, has now injured his flexor tendon - an injury similar to a human rolling an ankle.
It is believed this latest injury is not to the same leg that kept him out of last year's Spring Carnival.
Trainer Mick Price said the six-year-old pulled up with a tendonitis-like injury and would need three months in the paddock.
"It is a bit like a rolled ankle," Price told AAP.
"He has inflammation of the superficial flexor tendon at the back of the near front pastern."
Pompeii Ruler was on the comeback trail this spring from a suspensory injury to his off foreleg and had only finished worse than fourth in five runs this campaign.
Price said he believed the horse had been peaking at exactly the right time.
"The injury is very disappointing," he said.
"After Saturday I thought the timing was going to put him straight back where he belongs."
Pompeii Ruler has only raced 18 times for seven wins but his injury continues a tough spring for Caulfield trainer Price, who lost his other Cox Plate contender Light Fantastic after he struggled for form following his first-up win in the Liston Stakes.
The loss of Pompeii Ruler further weakens Australia's weight-for-age championship with impressive Caulfield Guineas winner Whobegotyou to miss the race while the likes of Maldivian and Sirmione are struggling for form and doubts still surround the staying ability of long-time favourite Weekend Hussler following his shock failure in the Turnbull Stakes.
As a result Price is now expected to target the race with Saturday's impressive Toorak Handicap winner Alamosa after originally saying the former Kiwi would be kept to handicap events.