Ryan had hoped to start Doolan Jack in Saturday night’s Cup at Globe Derby Park.

Unfortunately, the gelding pulled up sore after racing at Port Pirie last Friday night.

“I could see in his race that all was not well,” Ryan said.

“He started to pace roughly and then dropped out to finish second last.

“An X-ray on Monday showed he has suffered a stress fracture just below the knee on his near side front leg.”

Ryan said it was not a career-threatening injury but would mean a break for several months.

Gawler Harness Racing Club president Peter Bain said he was pleased with the fields for Saturday night’s Cup meeting.

“There will be nine races and while the Cup is the main race, we have a number of other feature events,” Mr Bain said.

The meeting will see the running of the Stallion Station Gawler Oaks sponsored by former club presidents, Warren Barrington and Brian Turner, the Gawler South Bakery Gawler Derby, the Domenic Virgara Memorial Classic and the Podiatry Care Hambletonian Trotters Cup.

The Cup, at $25,000, is the richest provincial race run in South Australia while the other feature events are each worth $8000.