Knight’s Choice springs Cup surprise
A spring campaign based out of Mount Macedon has provided Sheila Laxon a second victory in the Melbourne Cup with Knight’s Choice winning Australia’s great race at Flemington.
Now training on the Sunshine Coast with partner John Symons, Laxon became the first female trainer to win the Melbourne Cup when Ethereal scored in 2001.
Symons was instrumental in setting up Mount Macedon in the late 1990s and Laxon used the training facilities to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double.
A move to the Sunshine Coast seven years ago with a view to retirement was put on hold after a big-race win at the Magic Millions Carnival and the pair now has 23 horses in work and a Melbourne Cup trophy to add to the cabinet.
Ridden by Irish jockey Robbie Dolan, $91 longshot Knight’s Choice defeated Japanese raider Warp Speed ($26) by a half-head with Okita Sushi a further three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Symons pointed to the success he had at Macedon Lodge before leviathan owner Lloyd Williams purchased the property from where Efficient, Green Moon and Almandin were all prepared to win the Cup.
In the early days of the property, Symons trained a Blue Diamond winner, a Thousand Guineas winner while Laxon produced her Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double.
“Sheila asked if we could be at Macedon Lodge (for the campaign),” Symons said.
“We've got to thank Mark Player and, I haven't met the owner, Bruce Dixon for letting us stay there.
“Everyone knows the success going back 20-odd years that we had from there, Blue Diamonds, Thousand Guineas, Caulfield, Melbourne Cups.
“We just love the place and we know how to use it.”
Dolan said winning the Melbourne Cup was an incredible feeling, one that he can’t put into words.
“Well, pinch me. I think I'm dreaming,” Dolan said.
“It's incredible. I just can't believe it.
“This is the biggest race in the world, and to win it is just incredible.”