Former Australian Horse of the Year Lankan Rupee's comeback is over with the sprinter again sidelined by injury.

Trainer Mick Price had hoped to get him to the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth but scans on Monday revealed the five-time Group One winner had a suspensory ligament injury in his off foreleg.

Price said Lankan Rupee would need at least four months in the paddock and might not be seen again this season.

"He got scanned this morning," Price said.

"It's not a big injury as such but it's in an awkward spot.

"It is at the origin of suspensory which is the part that attaches on to the back of the cannon bone.

"We'll take the advice and spell him and that's all we can do unfortunately."

Price said he was prepared to play a waiting game with Lankan Rupee in the hope he can get him back to the racetrack.

"He probably won't come back until he's an eight-year-old but that's OK as he's only had 26 starts," he said.

Lankan Rupee only recently returned from the injured list after a hock problem kept him away from the track for 12 months.

The gelding finished third on his return behind Our Boy Malachi in the Caulfield Sprint on October 15 before running fourth to Malaguerra in the Darley Classic at Flemington on Saturday.

The Darley Classic has left The Quarterback on the injured list after he was galloped on while Our Boy Malachi has been retired after bleeding for the second time.