The Marco Botti-trained Dandino has been scratched from the Caulfield Cup.
Dandino pulled up lame in the off-fore leg after trackwork at Werribee on Thursday, his last serious gallop before Saturday's $3 million race.
Runner-up in last year's Caulfield Cup behind Fawkner, Dandino rounded off his preparation for this year's race with a solid gallop.
Jockey Craig Williams was in a bullish mood following the workout, but on cooling down Dandino was found to be lame.