Thinking time on Royal Symphony for Cox Plate

TRAINER Tony McEvoy will spend the next two days deciding if Royal Symphony will run in the Cox Plate and take on Winx — but his initial reaction was to head in that direction.

Royal Symphony finished fourth in the Caulfield Guineas on Saturday after finding trouble in the straight when he was held up for a run.

“He never got an opportunity. I really didn’t see a reason why I should change my plans with him,” McEvoy said.

His jockey Dwayne Dunn described it as “the one that got away”.

“His next start will either be in the Cox Plate or the Vase on the way to the Victoria Derby,” McEvoy said.

“I’m not panicking about the Cox Plate and it’s still in play. I need to make up my mind soon as Kerrin McEvoy is on standby to ride him and he’ll need to start dieting to get down to the weight.”

Similarly, Manny Gelagotis said his training team still haven’t decided whether another three-year-old colt Levendi, who finished an unlucky sixth in the Caulfield Guineas, would contest either the Vase or the Cox Plate.

Levendi suffered interference in the straight and was pushed back to second last before finishing off strongly.

Gelagotis said Levendi would also contest the Victoria Derby.

“I walked away from that race thinking what a good horse he is as he was knocked over and still came again. I think from that race Royal Symphony and Levendi are the best colts going forward,” Gelagotis said.

Aaron Purcell is also con- sidering starting the Thousand Guineas winner, three-year-old filly Aloisia, in the Cox Plate.

Darren Weir said Caulfield Stakes winner Gailo Chop would start in the Cox Plate.

“The program fits in beautifully for him as it’s two weeks from his last run into it, which is what we need to do with him,” Weir said.

“He will come on again in terms of improvement.”