Group One winner Sword Of State has been scratched from Saturday’s first-up assignment in the Gr.3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m).

The Jamie Richards-trained three-year-old was ruled out for reasons beyond just the rain-affected conditions.

“He’s not going to run. We are just a little bit worried about the wet track there, and his bloods haven’t been perfect,” Richards said.

“We’re going to freshen him a little bit. He will have three or four days out in the paddock and then we will give him a trial.

“He will head towards the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m on September 25). It’s a three-year-old set weights and penalties race and then he will run in the Roman Consul (Gr.2, 1200m) hopefully on the way to the Coolmore (Gr.1, 1200m) in Melbourne.”

A son of Snitzel, Sword Of State won four of his five starts as a two-year-old, including the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).