Cavalryman has been scratched from the Melbourne Cup leaving a field of 22 to run at Flemington.
Concerns were raised on Monday about the horse's fitness and after a veterinary examination on Tuesday morning, he was officially taken out of the Cup with heat in a foreleg.
His withdrawal means Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation relies on Willing Foe to win the race they have run second in three times.
The Japanese Caulfield Cup winner Admire Rakti is the favourite ahead of Australian-trained horses Lucia Valentina and Signoff.