THE Bendigo Equine Hospital's phone has been ringing off the hook as one of Australia's most loved racehorses, Subzero, battles a bout of colic and fights for his life.
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After falling ill last Sunday the 1992 Melbourne Cup winner was admitted to the Equine Hospital and is being treated by vets Sarah Jalim and Mike Whiteford.
"He got quite a bad episode of colic at the weekend and as a result of that his kidneys aren't working quite as good as we'd like them to be," Dr Jalim said on Thursday.
"So that's what we're treating him for and at the moment he is going along okay. It's still simply too early to be positive or negative, but he's hanging in there."
Affectionately known as Subbie, Subzero won the 1992 Melbourne Cup with jockey Greg Hall aboard and trained by Lee Freedman.
Almost a year ago to the day the adored grey, who was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2014, celebrated his 30th birthday in what has been a remarkable life of longevity.
"For a thoroughbred to get to 30 is absolutely outstanding and I think that's because he's a tough horse who has been looked after spectacularly well," Dr Jalim said.
"He'll be in for at least another 24 hours and we'll continue to assess him."
The Bendigo Equine Hospital has been inundated with phone calls from fans of Subzero concerned with his health and passing on well wishes to one of thoroughbred racing's great ambassadors.
"We've had a lot of fans ringing up asking how he is... we've had people in tears, so there's a lot of concern out there for him," Dr Whiteford said.
Subzero's great mate, Graham Salisbury, has also been flooded with well wishes from across Australia and abroad in recent days.
Subzero has been with Mr Salsibury since retiring from racing in 1994, with the pair having done countless visits to schools, hospitals, hospices and retirement villages over the years.
Such is the bond between the two, Salisbury describes Subzero being away from his Heathcote property as "like losing your walking stick."
"He'll be in there for a few days yet, but he's in good hands with Sarah and Mike and they'll get him right," Mr Salisbury said.
"We're certainly missing him at the moment.
"He's a strong old horse and has a will to win, so there's no reason why he won't beat this."
