The world’s highest rated racehorse Frankel’s career has been put on hold until next week when the results of scans on his injured leg will determine his future.

Legendary English trainer Sir Henry Cecil had to call a halt to Frankel’s preparation for his return to racing after suffering a minor leg injury in a workout at Newmarket on Wednesday.

Frankel who has a Timeform rating of 143, is undefeated from nine starts and was due to return to the racetrack after a winter spell in the Group 1 £175,000 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 19.

Racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe has brushed aside rumours that Frankel has been retired and said a decision, if any, will be made after the results of scans become available next week.

“He certainly hasn’t been retired. I spoke to Henry two or three hours ago, I spoke to him this morning and I spoke to him last night,” Grimthorpe said.

“No decision at all will be taken until after he has had this definitive scan which is due to take place next week.”

“No decision has been made regarding anything to do with his future at the moment. He certainly hasn’t been retired at this stage and it’s incorrect to think that.”

“We are hopeful and quite positive that he will be OK, but at the moment, we really don’t know and it’s too early to say.”

It had been mooted that a clash with Australia’s world sprinting champion Black Caviar could be on the cards while the Peter Moody trained mare was in England for her Royal Ascot campaign, but this is now looking very unlikely.

Black Caviar looks likely to return to racing in the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on April 28 before heading to England for the Group 1 £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot on June 23.