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| Staff Writer |
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"I have never encountered a horse that doesn't breathe heavily after racing," declares Sheila Laxon, her voice filled with wonder as she watches Knight's Choice parade at The Symons-Laxon stable based in Sunshine Coast. The dual Melbourne Cup-winning trainer's latest star, purchased by John Symons for A$85,000 from the Magic Millions sales in Queensland, stands on the cusp of a potential international campaign that could see him competing on Dubai World Cup night.
"Dubai is a particularly attractive option," Laxon reveals, weighing her words carefully. "Their racing facilities are incredibly upmarket, and they spare no expense in ensuring horses receive proper preparation. It would be an honour to compete there." The firm tracks of the UAE would particularly suit Knight's Choice, a factor weighing heavily in the discussions about his future campaign.
The remarkable gelding's recovery ability sets him apart from any horse Laxon has encountered in her decorated career spanning three decades. "When he won the Winx Guinneas adamantly, he returned to the winners enclosure without any signs of heavy breathing. It was then I knew we might have something extraordinary," she says her eyes fixed on her stable star. "He must possess remarkable lung capacity."
His journey to Melbourne Cup glory wasn't always smooth sailing. His aversion to wet tracks saw him dismissed by many leading into Australia's greatest race, with several below-par performances on rain-affected tracks. Yet Laxon's belief in his exceptional talents, founded on his remarkable performances in better conditions, never altered.
"His performance in the WFA Q22 was particularly impressive - competing at weight for age and finishing second. His competitiveness against international horses in his first weight-for-age race was remarkable.
He appears undeterred despite his smaller size, which could be disadvantageous when carrying set weights against larger, stronger, horses."
The gelding's unique characteristics extend beyond his remarkable lung capacity. His love for the spotlight has proven particularly valuable for a horse with international aspirations. He is out of Midnight Pearl, a mare that won 7 country races from 1200 to 2000m, and was sired by Extreme Choice.
“Horses also need to travel well within themselves during the race, not pulling and expending unnecessary energy. And Knight’s Choice loves being a showpiece with everybody running around after him. He thrives on that.
“That's why he's the sort of horse you could take anywhere in the world, and he's competitive. He just loves being centre stage.
“You should have seen him the day after the Melbourne Cup when all the media came out. He stood on the lawn for about an hour, just preening.
“Horses, do know. They do glow in that attention. It's important to encourage that so they love being the in the spotlight,” said Laxon.
Laxon's own journey from a farm in Wales to becoming one of racing's most respected figures mirrors the remarkable rise of her stable star. Her groundbreaking achievement in 2001 with Ethereal - becoming the first female trainer to secure the Cups double and win the Melbourne Cup - established her as a pioneer in the sport. That initial success, far from being a one-off, has now been reinforced by Knight's Choice's triumph.
Her partnership with John Symons has proved particularly significant in recent years, combining his eye for talent with her masterful training approach. "John has the most amazing eye for a horse," Laxon explains. "He can pick a yearling and identify it as an athlete that will be competitive, regardless of issues that might deter other buyers."
This talent has led to Knight's Choice joining their stable. "We trained his dam, Midnight Pearl. But no one knew how good he would become.”
Their partnership has flourished in a big way due to their complementary skills, with Laxon noting, "He loves galloping them while I don't, so we achieve a balance between us."
The racing landscape Laxon encountered in her early days bears little resemblance to today's more inclusive environment. She recalls clearly the challenges she faced during the 1988 Melbourne Cup as a track rider for Empire Rose.
"I wasn't allowed past the white line they had back then, which was incredibly chauvinistic. Coming from New Zealand, I found Australia particularly discriminatory compared to my home country, where there was more equality."
An encounter with her former trainer (Derek Kent) from England particularly stands out in her memory. "When he discovered I had started as a jumps jockey racing over steeplechase fences, he returned to the stable and declared adamantly that racing wasn't a job for girls. He believed that women shouldn't be riding in races. That was the prevailing attitude in the 1980s."
The 2001 Fred Hoysted Award marked a turning point, though its significance wasn't immediately apparent to Laxon. This Award is for Australians, and it was the only time it had been awarded to an overseas recipient "Being a New Zealander, everybody was surprised that I actually received it. I probably didn't understand its significance then, but I certainly do now - it was huge," recollects Laxon.
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Laxon's unique approach to training, formed by her experience as both jockey and trainer, has been crucial to Knight's Choice's success. Her methods focus on energy conservation and teaching horses to respond instantly when opportunities arise, a philosophy that has proven particularly effective with staying races.
"As a jockey, I was aware that horses in a race need to be taught to sprint off the mark for when a gap opens during the race. We don't want them pulling; we want them to travel smoothly off the bridle and be ready whenever a gap opens."
This attention to detail paid dividends in the Melbourne Cup, where jockey Robbie Dolan was able fluidly make use of the gaps as they presented themselves. The victory was made even sweeter by the fact that it was Dolan's first Melbourne Cup ride, a testament to Laxon's faith in both horse and rider.
The prospect of international competition has reignited Laxon's passion, despite earlier thoughts of retirement. "I love seeing how things are done differently and determining how to best utilise training facilities in various locations to make them work for me," she explains. Her previous experience as the first female track rider in Hong Kong demonstrates her pioneering spirit, which remains undimmed.
"Well, I suppose the world's your oyster. When you've got those ingredients, you've got to explore them. I couldn't let that go; I had to go the extra yards."
"I was previously invited to Dubai with Ethereal," she recalls, "but the owners ultimately chose to compete in the BMW. They were planning to enter the Arc de Triomphe, but after winning the BMW, they decided to retire her. It was disappointing, as I would have loved to compete internationally."
As she looks to the future, Laxon remains committed to inspiring the next generation of female trainers. Her success has helped transform the industry's landscape, creating opportunities that were unimaginable during her early days in racing.
"I love challenges. Anything I can do that can open the gates to women doing anything in the racing industry is a big plus for me. We might inspire a whole world of aspiring women to do wonderful things."
A crucial meeting in the coming weeks will determine the immediate future of Knight's Choice, with the Dubai World Cup night featuring prominently in discussions.
“I would love to go to Dubai. My son worked in Dubai for quite some time, and I went to the races up there when I stayed with him.
“I love what they're doing to Dubai. No expense is spared in ensuring the horses have the right preparation.
“It would be an honour to go up there, and I'll certainly push it when we have a meeting in a couple of weeks about where we go with him or what we do with him. For now, Dubai is certainly on the agenda. It's an incredible place, especially for this kind of industry,” said Laxon.
While the decision remains pending, the combination of the UAE's reliably firm tracks and world-class facilities makes it an enticing prospect for a horse Laxon describes as "a freak."
Her team back at the Sunshine Coast stables continue to thrive, securing four wins during her absence, a testament to the strong foundation she has built. As Laxon and her connections weigh their international options, one thing remains certain - this extraordinary partnership between the pioneering trainer and her remarkable horse has already carved its place in racing history. The only question remaining is whether Dubai will be the next chapter in their compelling story.