A freak gardening accident has forced champion jockey Jim Cassidy out of Sydney’s Spring Racing Carnival.

Cassidy was trimming a hedge at his Sydney home when he fell from a ladder and as he put his hands out to break his fall, his fingers got caught in the shears.

Both his right middle and ring fingers were sliced and one finger was damaged right to the bone.

Cassidy was referred to a hand surgeon however his chances of making a full recovery are diminishing due to extensive nerve damage to the ring finger.

Matthew Privato has been the jockey’s manager for three years and stated he has never heard Cassidy so upset.

With his career temporarily on hold, Cassidy will not be able to ride in this Saturday’s Randwick Group 1 races.

The Melbourne Cup winner was expecting his fourth win in The Metropolitan on Bellagion Wynn as well as a possible third time win with Deer Valley in the Flight Stakes.

Cassidy was expected to ride Bandar for a third possible win in the Spring Champion Stakes and was also riding Pacino in the Craven Plate and Fritz’s Princess in The Shorts.

Sadly the 46 year old will also miss out on riding Stryker in Melbourne and Vision and Power at Caulfield in a few weeks time.

Cassidy has had a brilliant racing career which includes winning the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper.