Dwayne Dunn returns to scale after winning on Royal Symphony (Image: Racing Photos)
Numbers for the Cox Plate increased by two on Tuesday with connections of Royal Symphony and Happy Clapper both confirming they are willing to take on Winx at The Valley on Saturday week.
Royal Symphony's trainer Tony McEvoy said he was of the mindset that the Cox Plate would be a suitable target had he won the Caulfield Guineas last week and although he finished fourth behind Mighty Boss, there is reason to suggest he could have easily been the winner.
"We've had a couple of days now to look at him and let the dust settle from the Guineas," McEvoy said.
"He has come out of it like the winner and probably should have won had it not been for a lack of opportunity in the run.
"We would have gone to the Cox Plate if that was the case so I'm thinking why not?"
The ride on Royal Symphony has been offered to Kerrin McEvoy but the leading jockey is yet to commit as he is also in the mix to ride Folkswood for Godolphin.
McEvoy said Dean Yendall was next in line, given his ability to get down to the required 49.5kg.
Sydney trainer Pat Webster had also been in two minds whether to travel Happy Clapper to Melbourne for another shot at the Cox Plate but said his Group 1-winner had come through his Craven Plate defeat in good shape and had no reason now not to have a crack.
"It's only Tuesday but at this stage he has come through last Saturday better than I had thought he might," Webster said.
"He ran sixth in the Cox Plate last year and is probably a better horse and in better shape this time around."
Webster said no decision had been made in regards to a jockey for the Cox Plate.