A mad dash to the Wagga Veterinary Hospital by trainer Mitch Beer last Thursday has helped save stable favourite Mr Trump from being euthanased.
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Mr Trump suffered a serious tendon injury when finishing at the tail of the field at Albury last Thursday on the opening day of the carnival.
"It was a rollercoaster of a carnival to say the least," Beer said.
"We gave Mr Trump a huge chance of winning and he was fairly-well supported in betting.
"But that went out the window fairly quickly and he ended up over at the hospital across the road not long after the race after he broke down.
"I floated him to the Wagga Veterinary Hospital after the meeting.
"Thankfully he was able to pull through and was back at our stables on Saturday morning.
"He is in a confined box but it looks as though he will make a full-recovery."
Beer said having Mr Trump euthanased was never an option.
"The thought never entered my mind," he said.
"It didn't look good there for a while and I knew he would never race again... but it didn't matter and I just told the vet to do whatever it takes to save him.
"I own half the horse but the other owners to their credit were also in full support of the decision."
Beer said by the time Mr Trump fully recovers the vet bill would be around $12,000.
The grey gelding won one race at the Sapphire Coast in July but finished unplaced in five subsequent starts.
Beer said his former owner had already been in contact about Mr Trump spending his retirement back in New Zealand.
"It's quite incredible really but his old owner from New Zealand has been in touch and wants to fly him home so he can spend the rest of his days back there.
"Which is bloody terrific news."
Mr Trump will retire with the career record of 16-starts for three wins, one minor placing and just over $15,000 in prizemoney.
"What do you do? You can't just save the fast horses because they have won more prizemoney," he said.
"He's a lovely natured horse, a good looking bugger and will make a nice pony.
"Luckily he had good owners that wanted to save him.
"It was a fairly lonely trip home from Wagga Thursday night after I dropped him off and not how I wanted to spend cup eve.
"But when I got a phone call on Friday morning to say he pulled through it really put a spring in my step and to cap it off the stable got a double."
