Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s farm in Dubai is a sad place this week as it sees South African superstar, Lizard's Desire, fight for his life after contracting laminitis.

A devastated Mike de Kock told Tabonline that Lizard's Desire had contracted enteritis and the toxins contributed to the start of laminitis, a debilitating inflammation of the hoof.

"Ninety-five percent of the time laminitis is deadly, but he’s fighting it with all the determination and courage he showed us in his racing,’’ said De Kock.

"We’re hoping he’ll pull through. He’s a great character. To do Dubai as hard as he did and then go on to run so well in Hong Kong and Singapore says a lot about how special he is.

De Kock also said that Lizard Desire's racing career is over.