After opening as the $4.60 favourite ahead of the listed Chandler McLeod Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday, Godolphin owned Osborne Bulls has withdrawn from the race due to a fever.

Osborne Bulls is scratched from the Chandler McLeod today.

He had a slight temperature this morning which has settled.

Nevertheless, the horse is bright and well for all his followers.

— James A. Cummings (@JamesCummings88) September 7, 2018

The five-year old was set to resume following his victory in the $120,000 Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield earlier in August, and looked like the mainstay to challenge Mr. Sneaky, Iconoclasm and Tulip at the Chandler McLeod this weekend.

Now featuring among four other runners (Crack Me Up, Bella Martini, Brave Song, Spirit of Aquada) to withdraw from the race, the odds now favour Mr Sneaky at $4.20 and Land of Plenty at $4.50 with Ladbrokes. 

Despite strong form and plenty of confidence from the Godolphin stable, Osborne Bulls continues to run out of luck in each of his preps. The star sprinter was poised as a favourite for the Group 1 $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben back in June, but missed out on a spot after being accepted as an emergency.

The plan going forward still looks unclear from here as far as feature racers are concerned.