Diamond Still On Course For Cup Test

Brian Ellison is counting the days before the Emirates Melbourne Cup after Carte Diamond´s encouraging Australian debut on Saturday.

Although he only managed ninth in the Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup, the four-year-old was badly checked by rival El Segundo and lost his place.

Carte Diamond ran on well over an insufficient mile-and-a-half trip and is now expected to be spot-on for the big race on November 1.

'He got murdered after about two furlongs, got shuffled back and stayed on well - we got beat four and a half lengths,' Ellison told At The Races.

'It was too short for him but he has run very well and should come on a lot for the run.

'He covered the last three furlongs in the third fastest time in the race. I was speaking to the handicapper yesterday and he thought the last three furlongs were unbelievable.

'He just got a bit unlucky early on in the race. Flemington in a fortnight´s time is a big galloping track and should suit him down to the ground.'

El Segundo´s rider Darren Gauci was suspended for 14 meetings for careless riding having allowed his mount to shift in the straight when not sufficiently clear of Carte Diamond.

Ellison added: 'They are very severe here on the jockeys and we got badly hampered - we went from what could have been passing the stands at fifth or sixth but got shuffled back to 15th.

'We lost a lot of ground and with half a mile to go, he only had three horses behind him and we finished ninth so we´re really delighted with the run.'

(C) PA Sport