New Zealand's best pacing mare The Orange Agent is unlikely to race again this year.
But trainer Brian Hughes is confident the outstanding four-year-old will be seen back at the track again.
A recent x-ray has confirmed a small fracture in her pastern, with a decision to be made soon on whether it requires an operation to insert a screw.
"Ultimately that decision isn't mine, it is the owner's, but either way she has to spend at least the next two months boxed," says Hughes.
"So she definitely won't be aiming at the New Zealand Cup and it would seem pretty unlikely she would race until the New Year.