119 three-year-olds remain in contention for one of the Spring Carnival’s most highly sought-after prizes following the release of 2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas first acceptances on Tuesday afternoon.

Royal Symphony is one of 119 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas first acceptances. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Early race favourite Royal Symphony is yet to be seen at the races this season, but a campaign towards the key stallion-making race remains his ultimate goal, after being confirmed in Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas first acceptances.

Trainer Tony McEvoy elected to bypass the Autumn Carnival with Royal Symphony and was rewarded for the decision when the three-year-old debuted for a dominant win in the Racing.com 2YO Maiden Plate (1200m) on May 25^th.

Repeating that performance and securing a four-length win in the Gippsland Region Handicap (1400m) upon stepping up to Saturday grade on June 24^th, the Domesday colt was sent to the paddock after he delivered a smart field a near five-length defeat in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) on July 8^th.

Royal Symphony is set to resume in the Listed Pin & Win Stakes (1400m) at Flemington this weekend, but he remains an early $5 favourite in Caulfield Guineas betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au following the release of first acceptances.

McEvoy is set to hold a strong hand in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas field after including a total of five horses in first acceptances on Tuesday.

Merchant Navy and Esperance are also both yet to taste anything but success and have been confirmed in 2017 Caulfield Guineas first acceptances respectively.

Merchant Navy debuted in March for a comfortable win in a Pakenham 1200m sprint and repeated the dose for another easy win at Sandown on April 5^th.

Having been sent for a spell after winning the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) on April 25^th, the Fastnet Rock colt poked clear to win the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) first-up this time and will only improve off the run.

One of several exciting three-year-old prospects for Godolphin this season, Esperance posted an impressive eight length win in an Echuca 1100m sprint on debut in July and was last seen winning the Sheamus Mills Bloodstock BM64 (1200m) in mid-August.

Only four fillies have been confirmed in 2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas first acceptances and all of Catchy, Formality, Garrard and Tulip are up to the quality of the likely field.

Winner of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) most notably as a two-year-old, Catchy resumed for a close second in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1200m) this time and is set to step out in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Formality has so-far won each of the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) this time in and her performance in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) is set to dictate whether or not she will step up to a mile.

Garrard has form around some of the standout horses of her age group, but she clearly required a run when resuming this time for fifth in the Johnnie Walker Plate (1200m) at The Valley on August 26^th.

Tulip has been one of her age-groups most consistent performers at the highest level and the direction that some her of stable mates take in spring may dictate a berth in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas.

Winner of the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) and finishing third in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) most notably in autumn, the daughter of Pierro ran an agonizingly-close second in the Johnnie Walker Plate first-up and appears as though she will improve with distance.

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2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas First Acceptances