Britain's team at the Dubai World Cup meeting at Nad Al Sheba was cut by two today following the withdrawals of the David Nicholls-trained Rudi's Pet and Mark Johnston's Gaelic Storm.
The news of Gaelic Storm's defection from tomorrow's six-furlong Golden Shaheen came as no surprise as the gelding has been suffering from setfast, a muscle-stiffening problem, all week.
But the skin infection which has ruled Rudi's Pet out of the same race was unexpected and leaves Nicholls without a runner at the US12 million meeting.
The loss of the pair means the million-dollar event will be contested by a 14-strong field, with Richard Hannon's Bold Edge the sole British representative.
Another absentee, this time from the Dubai World Cup, is Malek who was found to have a suspensory ligament problem after cantering for just over a circuit of Nad Al Sheba this morning.
The injury puts the career of the Richard Mandella-trained raider in doubt and puts paid to any opportunity of winning the race in which he finished runner up to Almutawakel in 1999.
The Philip Mitchell-trained Running Stag, one of Britain's two entries for the race, had a final workout up the home straight after being reunited with his big-race American jockey Shane Sellers.
Compatriot Lear Spear, trained by David Elsworth, stretched himself for the last 600 yards of the circuit under Neil Pollard.
Golden Silca pleased trainer Mick Channon after working under lights prior to contesting the Group Three Dubai Duty Free.
After witnessing her covering around five furlongs on the turf track, Channon said: "She moved great and was sensible, not busting herself.
"She's always been a good traveller and is pretty fit, this was just to help her acclimatise and get used to lights."
The Ed Dunlop-trained pair Monsajem (Dubai Duty Free) and Night Style (UAE Derby) both had light workouts prior to Saturday night.
The final British raider Compton Bolter arrived this morning, just over 24 hours before contesting the UAE Derby.
