Multiple champion Beholder, who would have been second choice behind American Pharoah for Saturday’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, will miss the race after a scope revealed the presence of blood.

Beholder had come down with a shipping fever earlier this week but reportedly had bounced back and was doing well until Thursday’s announcement by trainer Richard Mandella.

“After she galloped this morning we scoped her and found her to have bled,” said Mandella.

“This was obviously due to the fever she had when she arrived. Knowing this, we feel it is too great a risk to start her in the Classic.

“There’s obviously some irritated lung tissue there. Under the pressure of a race situation it could cause some real damage.”

Beholder won the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Distaff en route to champion 3YO filly honours. She was forced to miss last year’s title defense after spiking a fever.

Beholder had won her last six starts including the G1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar and Santa Anita’s G1 Zenyatta Stakes.

She is expected to race again next year.