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| Staff Writer |
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Renowned for breaking barriers, Sheila Laxon is plotting a global campaign for her Melbourne Cup sensation Knight's Choice, with prestigious international targets in sight.
Fresh from Tuesday's triumph at Flemington, the pioneering conditioner revealed a US$18m Dubai World Cup invitation has arrived for her emerging star. The Gr.1 contest at Meydan could mark the gelding's first overseas venture in March.
"He never expends any energy, he didn't blow after that race," said Laxon, who etched her name in history as the first female trainer to capture the Melbourne Cup with Ethereal in 2001. "I've never known a horse like him, he's a freak, and maybe he can go on and create history like Winx did and Phar Lap, who knows?"
Previous Dubai World Cup winners include Thunder Snow, who claimed back-to-back victories in 2018-19, while Country Grammer prevailed in 2022, adding the Saudi Cup to his resume.
While harbouring ambitions to become the first Australasian trainer to land the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Laxon faces a significant hurdle as geldings remain ineligible for Europe's premier middle-distance contest. French authorities are reviewing the historic race's conditions.
The Sunshine Coast-based partnership of Laxon and husband John Symons is weighing international options, with Hong Kong joining Dubai on the radar. Knight's Choice's adaptability to travel has impressed, having made multiple Sydney trips within a week.
"The world is your oyster and he's a young horse," Laxon continued. "He's the sort of horse that would travel well, he went up and down to Sydney twice in one week, and he just loves being on the road."
A Melbourne Cup defence remains under consideration, with Knight's Choice having carried 51.5kg to victory. "If he could go around at 55kg, obviously it would be a consideration," Laxon noted.
The partnership's retirement plans appear temporarily shelved following their stable star's emergence. "Honestly, we were retiring after this Melbourne Cup," Laxon admitted. "We need to take time out and enjoy the quiet life, but I can't see that happening anymore."