Zawraq's racing future is "in the balance" as the one-time leading Derby contender is making slower-than-expected progress in his recovery from injury.

The Dermot Weld-trained colt had been prominent in the ante-post betting for last season's premier Classic after he sailed home in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial in April.

He has not raced since then, though, after he sustained a crack in his off-fore cannon bone.

The expectation last summer was that the son of Shamardal, owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, would return to action this year.

But fears are now escalating that the unbeaten four-year-old might not sufficiently recover from what is ailing him.

Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager Angus Gold told Press Association Sport: "Zawraq is a work in progress.

"He's still mending and is not as good as we'd like him to be.

"It's one of those niggling little problems that keep recurring, and three weeks ago he went lame again.

"His rehabilitation continues, but we won't be doing anything in a hurry with him.

"Hopefully he will go back into training in three weeks or so, but it's going to be one step at a time."

When asked if Zawraq will see a racecourse again, Gold said: "Hopefully he will, but it's definitely in the balance."