Not unlike his namesake, King Kong Cooma has scaled some remarkable heights in his relatively short career.

But Way yesterday was hoping only for his trotter to beat the life-threatening illness, which will keep the son of Dream Vacation out of racing for more than six months should he manage to walk out of the Bendigo veterinary clinic alive.

King Kong Cooma claimed the Vicbred Super Series 2YO Trotters semi-final at Shepparton on Saturday night before falling ill.

Way rushed his horse to the vet on Sunday morning where his condition deteriorated rapidly.

The Cooma Park trainer said his Tatlow Stakes winner was "knocking on death’s door" on Monday, but rallied somewhat yesterday.

"Overnight he improved and his temperature came down a little bit, but he’s still not out of the woods," Way said.

"He’s going to be out for a long time, six months at least in the paddock and maybe even 12 months. He won’t race for a long time.

"This season is shot to bits, but I just hope he comes good again. It was touch and go there on Monday.

"These bugs are floating around all over the joint, there were hundreds of horses there on Saturday night.

"This time of the year these things sort of happen, usually not this bad though, he’s got it a lot worse than most horses get it."

King Kong Cooma has packed more drama into his seven start career than an entire stable of seasoned trotters.

He claimed the Tatlow Stakes at the ridiculous odds of $157 early last month before a poor showing in his next start.

After recovering his best form on Saturday, the horse now finds himself in a battle for life.

"He’s still young and, hopefully, there are plenty of good years ahead of him," Way said.