Robert Heathcote cannot believe his bad luck after losing a fifth horse to injury today in promising galloper Simmering.

Simmering could be sidelined for more than a year following his crippling injury that was sustained while working on Eagle Farm’s dirt track earlier today.

The four-year-old gelding was set to have his first up start in the Carlton Draught Handicap in Brisbane this Saturday after having close to three months off racing.

Heathcote was incredibly disappointed by the news.

“I can’t believe my bad luck this season,” Heathcote said.

“I’ve had an incredible run of having no injuries for two years and now I’ve had this happen.

“I’ve had a shocking run and to make matters worse after losing Work The Room with the same injury, I’ve had to spell Solzenhitsyn.

“His first run when he ran sixth behind Skating On Ice was so out of character I had him vetted and discovered he had a virus.”

“I’ve had 30-odd placings this season as well but it’s not all doom and gloom.”

12 months on the sidelines for Simmering would mean the horse missing out on a planned spring racing carnival campaign down in Melbourne.

“Long term I thought he was a spring horse and possibly a Caulfield Cup horse,” Heathcote said.

“He was going brilliantly this campaign.”

Simmering has won five of his 10 career starts and has already accrued more than $100,000 in prize money.

The Postponed gelding won his last three Saturday class races in a row in Brisbane and was expected to continue that good fortune this weekend.

Heathcote has now lost Work The Room, Redessi, Cavaliered and Teepoh to the same injury in the past month.