The world’s highest-rated sprinter Lucky Sweynesse has been ruled out for the season after the five-year-old suffered a fracture to his left fore cannon bone in Sunday’s Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m).

Lucky Sweynesse bounced back to winning ways in the HK$5.35 million contest but picked up the injury turning for home, trainer Manfred Man Ka-leung confirmed.

“Unfortunately he’s injured,” Man said. “He has a fracture in his fetlock. When he turned into the straight, he stumbled and I think it happened then.”

The five-year-old’s CV boasts all four of Hong Kong’s Group One sprints but he will be unable to defend his Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) crown on April 28’s Champions Day.

Lucky Sweynesse will undergo surgery and Man hopes his stable star will be back fighting fit by the beginning of next season.

“It’s a shame but it’s still early, so we’ll see,” Man said. “Hopefully he’ll be fine in three to four months.”

Lucky Sweynesse enjoyed an imperious 2022-23 campaign, picking up eight victories from 10 starts, but began to lose his air of invincibility at the start of this term.

After he was turned over as favourite on the opening day of the season, Lucky Sweynesse again failed to justify his short price in October’s Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m).

The superstar returned to form to narrowly prevail in November’s Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) before notching his fourth top-level win in December’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m).

Lucky Sweynesse was unable to deliver in January’s Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m), finishing sixth in an effort that saw regular rider Zac Purton replaced.

Man called on the services of James McDonald – who was the intended rider for Champions Day – in last month’s Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m), but the Kiwi jockey could manage no better than fifth.

Surely it’s time Man gave Lucky Sweynesse a rest?

It was under the guidance of Hugh Bowman that Lucky Sweynesse returned to winning ways on his eighth appearance of the season, taking the speedster’s record to 16 wins from 24 outings.

Despite the galloper’s recent tendency to be slowly away, Bowman waited patiently at the rear of the field before overhauling the progressive Invincible Sage in the closing stages.

Lucky Sweynesse’s absence from the Chairman’s Sprint Prize opens the door for Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) hero California Spangle, while Centenary Sprint Cup winner Victor The Winner will also be prominent in betting.