Perth star El Presidente has suffered a second major tendon injury, ending any hopes of a return to racing.
El Presidente had been progressing well with the Group One winner scheduled to trial at Bunbury last Friday before suffering his latest setback.
The Railway Stakes winner worked last Tuesday but the following morning trainer Bruce Watkins found heat in his tendon.
"Everything seemed fine with him, but he pulled up lame with heat in his leg and scans have revealed a slight tear in a tendon,” Watkins told Perth Racing.
"I was extremely happy with how he was progressing.
“We put a solid 18 months into his recovery and it was all going so well but I guess that's racing."
“I will have to speak to the owners as to what we do with him from here, but I'd say retirement is on the cards."
"The good horses don't seem to be able to come back from tendon injuries. They give 110% all the time and he was no exception.”
The son of Dante's Fury won 10 races from just 14 starts, amassing prize earnings of $1,024,515.
His feature wins included the Railway Stakes, Asian Beau Stakes, R.J Peters Stakes and Roma Cup.
Watkins has had a shocking run of luck with his good gallopers.
“Danny Beau and El Presidente have tendon injuries and Peggie's Choice, a full sister to Miss Andretti has to have bone chips removed but I'm sure we'll bounce back,” Watkins said.