Chautauqua's first international foray has been called off after the gelding suffered a minor injury at trackwork on Thursday.

Chautauqua was being aimed at the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin next month but wrenched a joint during light work at Flemington.

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said the injury was not serious and would have no impact on an autumn campaign.

"He'll probably be right in three days but we said it all along that if he wasn't right, he wasn't going," Hawkes said.

"He'll be right to come back for the autumn."

Hawkes described the injury as similar to an athlete rolling an ankle.

Chautauqua won his first three spring runs including the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on October 23 before a last-start second to Delectation in the Darley Classic at Flemington on November 7.

Hawkes had said earlier in the week that Chautauqua was on target to head to Hong Kong after pleasing the stable and undergoing his final vaccinations for the trip.

He said the horse would now be given three weeks in the paddock and doubted he would be ready to return in time for the Lightning Stakes at Flemington in February.