Carte cup bid in doubt

Carte Diamond’s bid for the Melbourne Cup is once again in doubt after Brian Ellison’s five-year-old suffered another injury.

Racing Victoria in Australia reported that the son of Theatrical has a “serious injury” and he will be denied a run in the “race that stops a nation” for the second consecutive year.

Ellison flies to Melbourne on Monday to assess the situation but said: “It’s a big blow, but we’ll just have to wait to see the extent of the damage to the leg.

“His preparation was going brilliantly and his times were good so it’s doubly frustrating,” he told The Racing Post.

“I’m in touch with the vet and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the horse will be all right.”

Carte Diamond was denied a run last year when a stirrup leather came away from the saddle and jockey Weichong Marwing was unseated during his final preparations.

The horse ran loose and suffered two severe lacerations to his off-hind leg when galloping through a running rail.