Cups dream still alive for Laxon

By Glenn Davis

The dream of a Caulfield and Melbourne Cups bid remains for the training partnership of John Symons and Sheila Laxon if Knight’s Choice wins the Listed Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Laxon is famous for her training deeds with former champion Ethereal who claimed the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 2001 following her Queensland Oaks triumph that year.

Laxon originally hoped for a Cox Plate campaign with Knight’s Choice in 2023 but a low rating forced the couple to abandon Melbourne plans.

Instead, he made a failed attempt for the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill in which he finished in front of only four runners.

Knight’s Choice returns to his home track for the first time since finishing fourth in the Mooloolaba Cup over 1600 metres in November last year.

It is also the venue of the biggest win of his career when he scored a dominant win in the Group 3 Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast in 2023.

Knight’s Choice is yet to win in four starts at Stakes level this campaign but showed he was a strong stayer after finishing second over 2200 metres in the Group 2 Q22 and third in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup over 2400 metres at his past two starts.

“It was a fantastic run in the Tatt’s Cup as he couldn’t get out at the right time and it was his first go over the trip,” Laxon said.

“It was a super run against Melbourne Cup horses and in the Q22 he was against a lot of European stayers and he flashed home late.

“It was a great run.”

Knight’s Choice was the subject of overseas offers as a three-year-old with connections rejecting a $2.3 million bid from Hong Kong following his Winx Guines triumph.

With rain predicted for most of the week, Laxon is hoping jockey Robbie Dolan can find firmer ground despite having placed on a heavy track at his only attempt.

“He’s got a lightning turn of foot and can stay all day,” she said.

“Although it’s likely to be a wet track if Robbie can find a good spot he’ll be hard to beat.

“It’s all in front of him but if he can win, he’ll spell and hopefully go to Melbourne for the spring.”