Finche out of the autumn with leg injury

Finche has been ruled out of the autumn carnival with a tendon injury, placing doubt over his immediate racing future.

Trainer Chris Waller confirmed the seven-year-old had suffered a low grade leg issue following a jump out at Flemington on Thursday and would be spelled immediately.

Waller said the injury did not appear to be serious but connections would know more in the coming weeks.

“A full prognosis will be made in a month’s time as to whether or not he will be ready to race in the spring,” Waller said.

“It is disappointing for all connections but fortunately it is only a minor injury with which we are not taking any risks.”

Finche started favourite in the 2019 Melbourne Cup, finishing seventh to Vow And Declare before a midfield effort behind Twilight Payment in last year’s renewal.

The son of Frankel is lightly-raced for his age and has won four of his 19 starts and more than $1.4 million in stakes.

Waller will have a strong hand in the feature races at Rosehill on Saturday with two-time Group One winner Kolding and Star Of The Seas both resuming in the Expressway Stakes (1200m).

Star Thoroughbreds filly Divina was scratched from the meeting on Friday, leaving him without a runner in the Widden Stakes, but the premier trainer saddles up three youngsters in the Canonbury.

Home Affairs is rated the leading hope of the trio after impressing at the trials and has been heavily supported in early markets.

Fellow debutant Giannis also has handy trial form and looked to have something in hand when second to last Saturday’s Randwick winner Stay Inside in his most recent hitout.

Conexy rounds out Waller’s Canonbury Stakes arsenal and as a Doomben winner in November, the youngster has the form on the board.