Enigmatic sprinter Lord of the Sky will have an extended stint on the sidelines after suffering a tendon injury in the Bletchingly Stakes on Saturday.
Lord of the Sky started a $4 favourite in the Group 3 but was beaten badly, trainer Robbie Laingsaying a scan on Sunday revealed a slight tendon tear.
The Cranbourne trainer initially feared the worst for the dual Group 1 runner-up.
“(On Saturday night) his off-front from his knee down to his fetlock joint blew up like a football,”Laing told Racing.com’s Racing Ahead.
“It looked like a bowed tendon to me.
“There’s a very slight tear up in under his knee, which must have let go a lot of fluid after injuring it.
“It doesn’t look like it’s the end of the road.
“He’s on anti-inflammatories and bandaged and he’ll be restricted to just walking exercises for a couple of months at least.
“I can envision him doing beach work in January/February – we’ll have a good gauge on him then whether to continue on or whether he’ll need longer.”
Lord of the Sky is one of the most polarising horses in the country, given he can run huge races against the best sprinters in the land and then fail as a short-priced favourite in much easier assignments.
While Laing can understand the frustration of punters, the horse has a special place in his heart.
“I can see where the haters are coming from – early days he won five out of his first 10 and he’s gone 12 months without a win,” Laing said.
“(But) the horse means a lot to me – I bred him for nothing.
“He’s won nearly a million in stake money.”
WATCH: Lord Of The Sky in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield