The Group One Longines Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) has been hit by another withdrawal, with trainer David Eustace confirming Massive Sovereign will not run in Sunday’s HK$40 million contest after suffering a leg injury.

After Japanese raider Lord Del Rey came out of the race with lameness on Tuesday, the scratching of last year’s Hong Kong Derby winner reduces the field for the city’s richest race to just seven runners.

The last time the Cup was contested by such a small field was way back in 2007, when Godolphin’s Ramonti defeated just six rivals.

Massive Sovereign sat on the third line of betting at $26 in overseas fixed-odds markets, behind only $1.15 favourite Romantic Warrior and Japanese raider Bellagio Opera at $5.