After Le Remas bowed two tendons, Brian McKnight was resigned to his best horse never racing again.
But in a triumph for time and care, the seven-year-old will resume from a two-year hiatus in the William Hill Handicap at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Le Remas has been out of action since he finished down the track in the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill in June 2013, four months after giving McNight his biggest thrill when he won a Listed race at Caulfield.
Despite Le Remas’ extended absence, McKnight is tipping his horse to run a better race than bookmakers give him credit for in early markets.
“He’s a real trier and doesn’t like being beaten,” McKnight said.
“If he can get an early softish part of the race I would expect him to be around the top five.”
Injury first struck Le Remas when he was being prepared for a race on Melbourne Cup day in 2013 and just as he was nearing a return in the same race last year, he went amiss again.
Scans revealed the tendon was in worse shape and McKnight thought Le Remas’s racing days were over.
But when he spied Le Remas tearing around his retirement, a closer inspection revealed the tendon had healed.
Le Remas spent the first part of his preparation on a water walker before he was allowed to gallop on McKnight’s training track.
The seven-year-old will make his return after contesting two Tatura barrier trials.
