Caulfield Guineas favourite Royal Symphony will stick to his own age group when he lines up in the Group 3 $175,000 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on Sunday.
Royal Symphony, above, will stick to his own age in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Prelude at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Trainer Tony McEvoy also nominated Royal Symphony for the Group 1 $500,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) against the older horses also on Sunday but will stick to the three year old colts and geldings opposition.
“My intention is to run him in the three-year-old race,” McEvoy told AAP.
“I don’t think he’d get a run in the other race anyway with his rating.”
Royal Symphony remained unbeaten from four starts with his win in the Listed $120,000 Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Flemington on September 16 and McEvoy will now give the Domesday colt another run over 1400m before stepping up to the 1600m of the Group 1 $2m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield on October 14.
“He just blew a bit hard after 10 weeks between runs as a colt,” McEvoy said.
“There was a couple of nicks and scratches on him from the buffeting that he got but he’s come through the race really well.
“He hasn’t left an oat and he’s lovely and bright.
“He cantered around really nicely this morning and he’s ready to go back to the races.”
Royal Symphony had to overcome several hurdles to win the Exford Plate but after being hopelessly locked away on the fence behind a wall of horses, somehow jockey Dwayne Dunn was able to manoeuvre into the clear and the colt powered home to claim victory by a head over Eclair Sunshine.
Dunn will again be aboard Royal Symphony who will be having his first start at Caulfield after a win at Pakenham and three wins at Flemington and McEvoy is also keen to get that query out of the way before the main event of the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas.
“It’s the race that he needs to get him to the Guineas, and of course Caulfield is another challenge for him,” McEvoy said.
“But the guy I’ve got on him, there’s no-one better at Caulfield than Dwayne Dunn.
“I’m looking forward to it, but of course he needs a bit of luck around Caulfield. But they all do.”
Royal Symphony is currently the $3 favourite for the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au and also sits at the top of the market order at $1.85 for the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
Early market order for the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Prelude at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.85 Royal Symphony, $5.50 Kementari, $6 Levendi, $9 Esperance, $11 Eclair Sunshine, Summer Passage, $13 Wassergeist, $17 Al Passem, $21 Invader, Muraahib, Sirconi, Muraaqeb, $26 Perast, Salsamor, Villermont, $34 Hecta, Plutocracy, $41 Mactier, $101 Barnet Allen.
