UK mare My Ambivalent will miss Saturday's Caulfield Cup. David Eustace, assistant to trainer Roger Varian, said the mare had not fully recovered from bruising to her off fore foot.
With My Ambivalent out of the $3 million Caulfield Cup it paves the way for the Peter Moody trained Lidari to gain a start.
Stablemate Brambles will now move to first emergency ahead of tonight's barrier draw.
Eustace said while My Ambivalent was "95 per cent right" it was pointless tackling a Group 1 race unless a horse was 100 per cent fit.
He said the goal was now to have My Ambivalent "cherry ripe" for the Melbourne Cup, where regular jockey Andrea Atzeni would take the ride.
"We've had to draw stumps on the Caulfield Cup, it's a real shame," Eustace said.
"It's just slightly not right, but we can't go into the race when you are not A 1.
"When you are this close to the race it makes it difficult."
Eustace said he and Varian believe there is a "big run in her" and believe "the Melbourne Cup will suit her.
"Now we are not faced with a massive race against time now to get right for the Melbourne Cup."
Eustace said it is unlikely that My Ambivalent would have a start before the Melbourne Cup. (Racing Network)