Group One winner Little Brose’s racing career is up in the air after he suffered a tendon injury in a Conghua trial last Friday.

A meeting between champion trainer David Hayes and owners Peter Young Wai-po and David Young Yuk-chuen next week will determine whether the colt is given a shot at racing again in Hong Kong or retired to stud.

The winner of last year’s Group One Blue Diamond Stakes (1,200m) in Australia for Hayes’ sons Ben and JD, Little Brose only had two starts in Hong Kong before the major setback.

Thrown in the deep end for his debut in the city, the Per Incanto three-year-old ran eighth to Invincible Sage in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) in April before an improved second to Call Me Glorious under top weight of 135 pounds last month.

David Hayes was devastated by the injury after Little Brose had shown significant improvement in the lead-up to the Conghua trial.

“He’s bowed his tendon and there’s never a good bowed tendon, is there?” Hayes said.

“I’ll be having a meeting with the owners next week when that final scan comes through and we’ll make a decision on his future.

“Before the trial, I was standing there at Conghua and said to my staff ‘this is a trophy horse for next season’. Ten minutes later, he was on a horse ambulance.”

Hayes said a lengthy rehabilitation to give Little Brose a chance of racing again was under serious consideration.

“The good thing is, he is a colt and he won’t be wasted if we can’t rehabilitate him,” the veteran handler said.

“We’re hoping we can, but I know it was a very nasty tendon. It would be a year rehab with an average prognosis. If he is [to race on], he’ll probably be ready to run at the end of next season.”

If the injury is too severe to recover from, Little Brose would be the second high-profile loss from Hayes’ stable this season after Global Harmony’s persistent barrier issues led to him being banned from racing in Hong Kong.

The two major blows haven’t held Hayes back from striking top form this term, with the 61-year-old notching 46 wins.

Aiming to reach 50 victories, he can continue his charge with five starters at Sunday’s twilight meeting at Sha Tin.

Hayes identified Master Mastermind and Rubylot as his best chances, but rued the latter’s wide draw in barrier 11 in the Class Three Amethyst Handicap (1,400m).

Master Mastermind is closing in on a breakthrough triumph after two placings from his three starts, including a fast-finishing second behind Divano in the Class Four Makarpura Star Handicap (1,200m) last start.

The Deep Field three-year-old’s claims in the second section of the Class Four Diamond Handicap (1,400m) on Sunday were boosted when he drew barrier three.

“Mastermind’s got a good gate and should run well,” Hayes said. “He’s looking for 1,400m. Rubylot is in terrific form, but he’s got a bad gate.”

Hugh Bowman retains the ride on Master Mastermind and Zac Purton hops aboard Rubylot, who ran a close third to Huge Wave in the Class Three River Verdon Handicap (1,400m) under Derek Leung Ka-chun last start.

Rubylot was a sensational winner two starts ago, bolting in by three and three-quarter lengths on Champions Day under James McDonald. Strongest Boy, Affordable and Oriental Smoke are Hayes’ other runners on Sunday.