Champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy will spend the next two months on the sidelines after suffering a spinal injury at Rosehill.
The 43-year-old sustained the injury during the final race on Saturday in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes.
McEvoy was riding Tintookie when the horse broke down, throwing the jockey to the ground as the race continued. Unfortunately, the Brad Widdup-trained runner had to be humanely euthanised.
READ MORE: Tigers dealt brutal home truths over Leichhardt future
READ MORE: Burgess rumour ‘won’t go away’ amid Souths slide
READ MORE: Eels star’s resilience lauded after family tragedy
The star hoop was conscious when he left the track but had to be taken to Westmead Hospital, with scans revealing a spinal fracture.
The injury will not require surgery and will heal with time.
McEvoy will require at least six weeks to recover from the injury, which will see him miss both days of The Championships at Royal Randwick in early-April.
Earlier in the meeting, McEvoy came close to winning his second Golden Slipper aboard Coleman, but was pipped at the end by eventual winner, Lady of Camelot.
McEvoy did claim The Galaxy with Zapateo, taking his career Group 1 tally to 83 wins.