A key runner has been scratched from Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond Stakes field on vets advice.

Azazel who was a $19 chance in Blue Diamond Stakes odds has been taken out of the race after trotting up lame this afternoon leaving trainer Tony McEvoy with two runners in the Group One race at Caulfield.

Azazel joins the Clinton McDonald-trained Spoils as withdrawals from Saturday’s $1.5 million race for two-year-olds, with the only emergency Sheer Madness gaining a start in the now less-than-capacity field of 15.

McEvoy, who still has Aspect and Roomooz in the Blue Diamond, told stewards Azazel had trotted up lame in the near-foreleg and he was withdrawn on Thursday afternoon.

Azazel won the Inglis Banner impressively on debut before running fourth in the Maribyrnong Stakes. This preparation he finished second in the Blue Diamond Preview and fourth in the Blue Diamond Prelude.

Scratching: 25-02-17 Cfield R7 – No.2 Azazel – Trainer advised trotted up lame in the near fore – withdrawn at 5:05pm on veterinary advice.

— RVStewards (@RVStewards) February 23, 2017