Gregory Hickman four-year old colt Pierata has been scratched from the Group 2 1400m Tramway Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Tramway Stakes favourite Pierata (above) looked to make it back-to-back wins at Group 2 level on Saturday.

Following a vet inspection on Friday afternoon, it was confirmed Saturday’s $3.50 favourite at Ladbrokes would miss the race after pulling up lame in his mid-foreleg.

After winning by 0.2L at Randwick in the Missile Stakes earlier in August, Hickman chose to resume Pierata at Group 2 status despite fellow race mates Showtime and Kementari stepping up to Group 1 status in this weekend’s Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.

Up in trip, the plan was for Pierata to run the Tramway this weekend, a 13-horse field that contained six Group 1 winners. Depending on his success, the Group 1 stage looked like the next step.

Pierata’s absence now opens the door for eight-year old veteran Tom Melbourne, while Kris Lees trained Le Romain has firmed into the $2.90 favourite from barrier 9.

With reportedly significant swelling to the leg, Pierata looks likely to resume sometime in the coming months following a trial and a possible campaign into Melbourne.