Leading Rothmans Royals St Leger hope Saddler`s Quest has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Gerard Butler has admitted defeat in his battle to get the unbeaten colt fit to run again this term.
He had been aiming the Lingfield Derby Trial winner at next month`s Doncaster Classic ever since lameness ruled him out of the Vodafone Derby.
But Butler said: 'The vets feel he requires more time and we have come to the decision to retire him for the season and start afresh next year.
'To bring him back at the end of the season would put more stress on him so we will give him time and he will come back next year for races like the Sheba Classic and the Coronation Cup.
'It is an absolute nightmare and I am very sorry for the owners as it was their chance of a lifetime. But it is a tough game.'
It is the second year running that Butler has suffered St Leger heartache as his leading fancy Compton Ace also missed the race due to injury in 1999.
Saddler`s Quest won at Bath and Kempton prior to his Lingfield victory and was quoted at 14-1 for the season`s final Classic by Blue Square.
