A possible trip to Dubai for Sunlight to the World Cup meeting has been ruled after the star mare suffered a hind leg injury in a paddock accident.

However, trainer Tony McEvoy said the multiple Group One winner could still be in line for an overseas trip to Royal Ascot in June.

McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his son Calvin, is unsure how Sunlight was injured.

The mare requires surgery which will delay her autumn campaign.

Sunlight commenced last autumn running third in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) and McEvoy was planning starting her campaign in the same race in February.

“She had a bit of filling in a hind leg, just on the outside of the off-side hind cannon bone and when we investigated it we found she's got a chip off the splint bone,” McEvoy said.

“It's pretty straight forward stuff, they'll take it straight out then it's six weeks recuperating, three weeks in the box, three weeks walking, then she'll be right to go.

“I've had quite a few of them with great success but it means the Lightning is out.

“It's frustrating, but not the end of the world.”

McEvoy said Sunlight had been trouble-free throughout her career.

“She's barely had a runny nose, so we've been very lucky,” McEvoy said.

“Usually she's fine in the paddock. She's either just whacked it on a post, galloping around or she's had a bit of a fight and got kicked.

“She's in with her sister Sisstar, maybe it was sisterly love.”