Champion galloper Zipping's future is in doubt after suffering a leg injury

Crowd favourite Zipping has been withdrawn from the Australian Cup at Flemington this Saturday after suffering deep bruising to his hind leg.

The nine-year-old gelding has been ordered to have two weeks rest after vets examined the injury yesterday.

Zipping was one of the favourites to win the 2011 Australian Cup, which he won by a nose ahead of Sirmione last year.

But the Danehill gelding has been left unable to defend his title after the incident at his Macedon Lodges stables that caused his off-hind to become “blown up like a football”.

Zipping’s Owner, Llyod Williams, has said that his horse is certain to miss the entire autumn carnival and that his racing future was in serious doubt.

“It’s terrible news as he had been coming along so well,” Williams said.

“He’ll need a few weeks rest, but he’s 10 next season so we’ll wait and see what we do.”

“He’ll need a few weeks rest, but he’s 10 next season so we’ll wait and see what we do.”

Lloyd Williams is hoping that he won’t have to hear bad news when the swelling goes down on Zipping’s hind leg in two weeks’ time.

‘He’s a grand old warrior and it’s sad,” Williams said.

“He’s a little bit different to the others.”

Zipping, who is famous for his multiple fourth place finishes in the $6 million Melbourne Cup, has had 47 starts in his career and has earned more than $4.5 million in prize money.