Symphony may face music against Winx
TONY McEvoy will spend the next two days deciding whether Royal Symphony will tackle Winx in the Cox Plate, but his initial reaction was positive.
Royal Symphony finished fourth in Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas after being blocked for a run in the straight.
“He never got an opportunity. I really didn’t see a reason why I should change my plans with him,” the trainer said.
Royal Symphony’s jockey Dwayne Dunn described the race “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.’’
Manny Gelagotis said his stable hadn’t decided whether Levendi, who finished an unlucky sixth in the Caulfield Guineas, would contest the Vase or the Cox Plate.
Levendi suffered interference in the straight and was pushed back to second last before finishing strongly.
Gelagotis said Levendi would contest the Victoria Derby on November 4.
“I walked away from that race thinking what a good horse he is as he was knocked over and still came again,’’ he said. “I think from that race Royal Symphony and Levendi are the best colts going forward.”
Aaron Purcell is considering starting Thousand Guineas winner Aloisia in the Cox Plate. Darren Weir said Caulfield Stakes winner Gailo Chop was a certain runner.
“The program fits in beautifully for him as it’s two weeks from his last run into it, which is what we need,” Weir said.
“He will come on again in terms of improvement and hopefully he can run a place.”