Originally cleared of injury, Luke Currie will be sidelined for a minimum six weeks with a fractured vertebra.

Luke Currie’s dream start to a stint in Hong Kong has been halted with news of a fracture in a vertebra following a fall at the trials on Friday.

Currie was dislodged from the David Hall-trained Pride Of Eight after the saddle slipped at Sha Tin.

It was originally thought Currie had escaped serious injury after initial scans failed to reveal any fractures and the jockey would be stood down for seven days with concussion.

But further scans revealed the disappointing news for Currie who rode a winner at his first ride in Hong Kong last Sunday.

“Unfortunately, further scans have revealed Luke Currie has a fracture to his T7. No surgery required. Minimum six-week recovery,” the Victorian Jockeys’ Association said in a statement.

Currie was joined by fellow Melbourne-based rider Daniel Moor and left for Hong Kong last month, undergoing a three-week quarantine stay upon arrival.

Both rode for the first-time last Sunday, with Currie’s first ride a winner, aboard the David Hayes -trained Miracle Victory.

Currie was booked for 10 rides at Sunday’s Happy Valley meeting.