Royal Symphony's next challenge could be the toughest assignment for any horse in the world right now.
The talented colt's trainer Tony McEvoy has decided to give Royal Symphony a crack at the super mare Winx in Saturday week's Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Royal Symphony ran home hard to finish fourth in the Caulfield Guineas but McEvoy says the three-year-old should have won the $2 million event, which he says is a good enough rationale to tackle the Cox Plate.
"Our thought processes were that had he won the Caulfield Guineas, we were going to go to the Cox Plate," McEvoy said.
"The only reason he didn't win the Caulfield Guineas in my opinion was bad luck and you shouldn't change your mind on bad luck.
"It's a huge challenge but it's an exciting one."
McEvoy said finding a jockey was his main concern was finding a jockey to ride Royal Symphony at 49.5kg in the Cox Plate, which is below Dwayne Dunn's weight range. Kerrin McEvoy is the trainer's first choice.
"We've offered it to Kerrin McEvoy and he's considering. We'll see what Kerrin says and we'll make a decision based on that going forward," he said.
McEvoy said Royal Symphony showed the 2040m Cox Plate distance was what he needed after his fourth to longshot Mighty Boss in the Caulfield Guineas.
The trainer reported Royal Symphony had pulled up well from his Guineas effort and would largely go through his normal work routine as he builds up to Moonee Valley's showpiece race.
"He's in great shape and come out of the Guineas beautifully and the logical next step is to go to 2000m so he'll be trained on as normal," he said.
"He'll probably go back to the Valley next Tuesday and have a look around. He's a very fit horse now and there wouldn't be a horse with a better base fitness than him so I'm pretty relaxed going to the 2000(m)."
