Classy mare Dear Demi is the latest dropout from Saturday's Caulfield Cup. She was scratched at 2pm with a throat infection. Her departure takes the Cup dropout tally to four - the others being Dandino, Bande, Gris Caro. Lucia Valtina is currently favoriter at 3/1.
Trainer Clarry Conners said Dear Demi was showing signs of the infection on Thursday but her condition had deteriorated on Friday, forcing the unfortunate decision.
Dear Demi's withdrawal results in fourth emergency Renew gaining a start.
"She had a little bit of a cough, we treated her and thought she might come good but she hasn't improved," he said.
"If anything she has got worse today.
"I had the stable vet look over her and Singo's (John Singleton's) vet came and looked at her too and we all agreed that realistically she shouldn't run."
Dear Demi finished third in the Caulfield Cup last year and had been primed for another strong performance according to Conners.
"It is disappointing because a lot of work has gone in to getting to this point," Conners said.
"Many, many man hours and then you have something like this happen 24 hours out from the race."
Conners said he was hopeful the infection would not derail the remainder of her spring carnival.
"If she comes through the next couple of days okay and doesn't miss too much work we would like to run in the Mackinnon Stakes," he said.