There is a new dawn at the Sunshine Coast racetrack with the introduction of:
Esprit Racing
Esprit Racing is being launched this month by Melbourne based firm XO Accounting and will showcase the talents of racehorse trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon, as they officially make the sunshine state of Queensland their home.
Based at Caloundra at the picturesque Sunshine Coast racetrack, Corbould Park, Esprit Racing currently has 16 boxes on course, but they are keen to shortly expand to around 30.
As well as the training facilities, there are 70 race meetings per year right on the doorstep on the magnificent Corbould Park surface, plus fortnightly trials, and weekly jump outs. The facility is only some 75 minutes out of Brisbane, the airport and its two city tracks at Eagle Farm at Doomben.
Since arriving in Queensland 6 months ago, John and Sheila’s racetrack results have been tremendous, the horses are loving the climate and are thriving in condition. Horses are winning nearly every 5 runners and every second race the horses are placing. Add to that several 4th placings and that means prizemoney to our owners.
| Monthly | Starts | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Win | Place |
| May-16 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 8% | 54% |
| Jun-16 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 36% | 58% |
| Jul-16 | 5 | – | – | – | 0% | 0% |
| Aug-16 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 17% | 67% |
| Sep-16 | 9 | 2 | – | 1 | 23% | 34% |
| Oct-16 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11% | 55% |
| 62 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 18% | 50% |
With flagship horses Denoninator and Irish Constabulary having done a great job with several metropolitan victories in that early period, and now supported by several up and coming winners, and unraced youngsters awaiting lessees and owners, the business is very well placed for success.
Off the back of city victories at Eagle Farm over recent weekends, John and Sheila say they are thrilled to be working with Esprit Racing and look forward to lots more success. “We are in a great position, in terrific facilities where we can focus on the needs of the horses, and when combined with this magnificent climate we are seeing the horses responding where it counts, on the racetrack”, John said.
Esprit Racing has access to top quality race and track riders, and are supported by quality stable staff. Our regular race jockeys include one of the Queensland’s top apprentices, Sarah Eilbeck, top line jockey, Michael Hellyer, and the state’s leading rider, the international evergreen, Jeff Lloyd.
Sheila said. “Already many Melbourne owners are realising that their horse running here at Caloundra or at Eagle Farm or Doomben is a great excuse for a few days on the Sunny Coast! We get a buzz from the fact that many of our long standing friends and owners have made the effort to visit us, many on multiple occasions too. Our loyal customers continue to support us, and what we have realised is that with the communications available to us through regular voice messages, videos, our website and email, we can provide the same level of information. Now we can also offer a tremendous reason for people to have a social weekend, and get away from the cold Victorian winter to visit their horses, and us too!” she added.
John thanked Michael Kirby and Luke Klein from XO Accounting for their support and skills, which makes it so much easier for trainers to do what they do best, train horses.
Watch for the familiar “two blue” colours of Esprit Racing, and with regular opportunities to get involved in racing horses, get on board!
Check us out at: www.espritracing.com.au
Thanks, as always to Grant Peters, at www.tracksidephotography.com for the wonderful images