But Tosic refused to accept that scenario without exploring every option he had available, and it is that determination which has On China Beach close to a remarkable comeback.

The Courage Under Fire x Anybody Home filly was purchased from New Zealand by Tosic and placed in the hands of Oberon trainer-driver Wayne Watterson.

She was proving a handy acquisition with five wins at the Bathurst Paceway, but after finishing a distance last at Parkes on December 30 last year, a problem arose.

On China Beach sustained a fracture in the sesamoid bone – a bone embedded within a tendon that holds hoof to leg – on one of her front legs. 

The initial diagnosis was that she needed to have 12 months off to see if she could recover or retire permanently. That was upsetting to Tosic, so he decided to seek a second opinion from veterinarian John Crowley.

Based in Mittagong, Crowley has worked with renowned thoroughbred trainers like Chris Waller and GaiWaterhouse. 

“At that time when I first rang him, she had had about eight or nine months off, so he said

‘Bring her down and I will X-ray her again’,” the owner said.

“He said in that nine months she had off she had healed herself, but she was not quite all healed.

“I decided I didn’t want to bring her back unless I was at least 95 per cent positive she would be okay, as if it is not right, they tend to snap the hoof off the leg. Well, he gave me 98 per cent.”

The news was amassive relief to Tosic, and has undoubtedly further fuelled his passion for the sport.

He has formed an owners’ syndicate, which is known as ALGHarness Racing, and its fulltime trainer Watterson is now based at Peter Turnbull’s stables at The Lagoon.

“I don’t want to curse it, but she is going well and I think she is six to seven weeks away from trialling and maybe eight weeks away from racing again,” Tosic said of On China Beach.

“She means a lot to me this horse.

“She was the first Kiwi I ever bought and she did a terrific job for us.”