The connections of local fringe contenders for the Melbourne Cup will not be happy with Irish trainer John Murtagh’s late decision to bring his veteran stayer Royal Diamond to Australia with stablemate Mutual Regard.

Murtagh’s decision to target the Melbourne Cup with the eight-year-old Royal Diamond places another hurdle in front of the many local horses facing an almost insurmountable task to leapfrog into the Melbourne Cup field that is already top heavy with a record number of overseas qualifiers.

Of the top 30 horses on the current Melbourne Cup order of entry 13 are confirmed visitors from the northern hemisphere. This number excludes the confirmed withdrawals of Estimate, Pale Mimos and Hillstar and underlines how difficult it has become for local stayers to secure a Melbourne Cup start ahead of the higher weighted international entries.

If the final field was declared today the top 24 would include 12 northern hemisphere entries that are either already in Australia or booked on flights to Melbourne in coming weeks.

The Japanese pair Admire Rakti and Bande landed last weekend and will be joined by Red Cadeaux, Cavalryman, Dandino, Protectionist, Ambivalent, Seismos, Terrubi, Gatewood, Willing Foe, Royal Diamond and Mutual Regard.

As its stands this overwhelming international presence leaves local hopes such as Spillway, Who Shot Thebarman, La Amistad, Our Voodoo Prince, Bonfire, Gris Caro, Stipulate, Junoob, Entirely Platinum, Brambles and Puissance De Lune with little chance of gaining a Melbourne Cup berth unless they can secure ballot exemption by winning the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Mackinnon Stakes or Lexus Stakes or pick a penalty by winning races such as the Metropolitan, Herbert Power Stakes, Moonee Valley Cup, Geelong Cup or Bendigo Cup.

Royal Diamond was considered unlikely to travel to Melbourne after he finished a well beaten sixth in the Irish St Leger won by Brown Panther at The Curragh on September 14.

However Royal Diamond’s managing owner Andrew Tinkler decided this week that Royal Diamond, the winner of the 2012 Irish St Leger and last year’s Long Distance Cup on Champions Day at Ascot, should make the trip with his other entry Mutual Regard as he is 24th on the order of entry and guaranteed a place in the Melbourne Cup field with 55.5kg.

Mutual Regard, 27th on the order of entry with 55kg, has been rated among the leading Melbourne Cup contenders since he claimed the Ebor at York on August 23.

Tinkler tweeted: "Royal Diamond to take his chance in the Melbourne Cup with stablemate Mutual Regard. We look forward to our visit to Melbourne."

A late decision to return to Melbourne with Gatewood adds to the problems facing the local entries.

Gatewood failed to make the cut for the 2012 Melbourne Cup when he was here last spring and his connections felt the seven-year-old could miss out again until they realised he is assured of a start from 28th with 55kg on the order of entry.

The seven-year-old returned to John Gosden's care in the UK after a spell with Chris Waller in Australia and has won three stakes races this season.

"Gatewood has done well this year and is in great form,” Gosden said.

"Hopefully he goes there and runs a big one. He'll go for that race and nothing else."