Thank you for visiting our website, which displays the operations of highly successful thoroughbred racehorse trainers:
John Symons and Sheila Laxon ONZM.
We won the 2024 Melbourne Cup!
John and Sheila are thrilled to have won the 2024 Melbourne Cup with Knight’s Choice, repeating Sheila’s 2001 triumph with Ethereal.
We congratulate owners Cameron and Rodney Bain, and Richard and Kaye Waldron, and Robbie Dolan for a truly wonderful ride.
We thank everyone for their ongoing support!
Go the little horse!
John and Sheila are Gr1 winning trainers who made the exciting move to Queensland on the Sunshine Coast in 2016 after very successful careers, both individually and in partnership. Sheila is officially the first female Melbourne Cup winning trainer, with Ethereal completing the Cups double in 2001, whilst John is well known to Queenslanders with his Doomben 10,000 and Blue Diamond Stakes winning exploits with Bel Esprit, the sire of Black Caviar, amongst many other group victories.
Now they have done it again with Knight’s Choice’s magnificent victory in the 2024 Melbourne Cup!
The trainers are loving the Queensland lifestyle, and with John’s eagle eye in selecting young talent at bargain prices, have built a very exciting team of horses for the coming years.
Life is Great in the Sunshine State!
Sheila continues to participate in the Melbourne Cup Tour each year; something we are very proud to support.
Get on Board!
Horses AVAILABLE
Become a friend of Symons Laxon Racing
In the news
Stay up to date!
A WEEK OF AWARDS!
What an incredible week it has been for Symons Laxon Racing; one that we are absolutely delighted about! Firstly, last Sunday at The Star in Brisbane, Knight’s Choice was honoured as Australian Champion Stayer of the Year. His recognition as Australia’s best stayer is...
DURBAN WINS IN VIC!
At his second run in Victoria since moving to Macedon Lodge, Durban Harbour was an impressive winner of the CA Sinclair Pork Wholesalers BM56 Handicap (2100 METRES) on a Soft 6 track at Benalla yesterday. Ridden by promising apprentice Beau Treloar, who claimed 3kg,...
DURBAN DOMINATES!
A good barrier, a good ride and a good horse all came together to see Durban Harbour dominate his 1600m maiden today at the Sunshine Coast. Ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey, Robbie Dolan, the son of Dominant jumped well, and was quickly in the prime position...
Upcoming Runners
| Horse | Date | Time | Race | Track | Fields/Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nominations |
||||||
| Nihancan | Sep 17, 2025 | 2 - Three-years-old Maiden Plate | Bendigo | Field | ||
| Durban Harbour | Oct 18, 2025 | 8 - Sportsbet Caulfield Cup | Caulfield | Field | ||
| Knight's Choice | Oct 18, 2025 | 8 - Sportsbet Caulfield Cup | Caulfield | Field | ||
| Lady Thinkabell | Oct 18, 2025 | 8 - Sportsbet Caulfield Cup | Caulfield | Field | ||
| Pretty Stylish | Oct 18, 2025 | 4 - Schweppes Thousand Guineas | Caulfield | Field | ||
| Knight's Choice | Nov 04, 2025 | 8 - Lexus Melbourne Cup | Flemington | Field | ||
Acceptances |
||||||
| Fashion Flash | Sep 11, 2025 | 04:00 PM | 6 - Bet365 Bet Boost (bm62) | Seymour | Field | |
| Durban Harbour | Sep 11, 2025 | 04:30 PM | 7 - Gmcu (bm62) | Seymour | Field | |
| Whiskey and Beer | Sep 14, 2025 | 05:15 PM | 7 - Bet365 Bet Boost Hcp (56) | Kilmore | Field | |
| Taupo Tiger | Sep 14, 2025 | 04:40 PM | 6 - Annabelle Cleeland Hcp (56) | Kilmore | Field | |
Recent Winners
| Horse | Date | Race | Track | Margin | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durban Harbour | Sep 02, 2025 | 5 - Ca Sinclair Pork Wholesalers (bm56) | Benalla | 0.50 | Beau Treloar |
| Durban Harbour | Jun 22, 2025 | 1 - Perry's Sunshine Coast Event Hire Mdn Hcp | Sunshine Coast | 3.00 | R Dolan |
| Winsome Star | Mar 22, 2025 | 3 - Gotransit Media Group Plate (c1) | Eagle Farm | 2.70 | Jaden Lloyd |
| Fashion Flash | Mar 19, 2025 | 2 - Ladbrokes Calcutta & Luncheon 13 June Mdn Plate | Doomben | 0.90 | R Dolan |
| Lou Vega | Feb 09, 2025 | 1 - Creative Stone Mdn Hcp | Sunshine Coast | 0.10 | S T Collett |
| Knight's Choice | Nov 05, 2024 | 7 - Lexus Melbourne Cup | Flemington | 0.10 | R Dolan |
| Lika Wreckin' Ball | Oct 25, 2024 | 2 - Bold Design Kitchens Mdn Plate | Sunshine Coast | 0.80 | R Dolan |
| Whiskey and Beer | Oct 04, 2024 | 4 - Pasg Projects (bm58) | Sunshine Coast | 0.30 | T D Thornton |
| Mission of Love | Jul 14, 2024 | 5 - Wishlist Caloundra Cup | Sunshine Coast | 0.20 | Angela Jones |
| Whiskey and Beer | Apr 12, 2024 | 4 - Ascent Building Solutions Mdn Plate | Sunshine Coast | 0.30 | M Hellyer |