Diamond to have weekend spin before Melbourne decision

Johnny Murtagh plans to give Royal Diamond a workout over the weekend before making a final decision as to whether he makes the trip to Australia for the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

A reliable performer all season with a Group Three and Listed race to his name, the seven-year-old was said to have been tired after his effort to retain the Irish St Leger, where he could only finish fifth behind Voleuse De Coeurs.

Royal Diamond has 54.5kg at Flemington and Murtagh will need to put him in quarantine by October 3 to arrive among the second batch of European raiders towards the end of the month.