Sheila Laxon shows off the trophy.Credit:Eddie Jim

Andrew Wu (The Age)

This year’s Melbourne Cup was a comeback story wrapped in a tale about the Aussie battler inside a lesson about perseverance.

In an era when Australia’s famous race has become the plaything of the big stables, leviathan owners and internationals, Knight’s Choice’s boilover victory was a throwback to yesteryear: when the homebred stayer could beat the bluebloods.

This is the story the Melbourne Cup needed.

Sheila Laxon and John Symons are well-known figures inside racing but do not have the financial backing of the mega-millionaires or global breeding giants to match it with a Chris Waller, Ciaron Maheror James Cummings for Australia’s richest races.

Laxon has had three near-death experiences, the most recent coming in 2002, a year after she etched her name in Australian racing folklore through the deeds of wonder mare Ethereal, the 2001 Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner.

Symons is perhaps best remembered for his association with outstanding sprinter Bel Esprit, part-owned by legendary Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy.

The husband and wife training team have 23 horses in work. They are based on the Sunshine Coast, where they moved to supposedly retire seven years ago. Retirement is on hold.

Knight’s Choice’s story is the opposite of what the race has become. His price tag of $85,000 is a fraction of what the cashed-up owners spend on the European stayers they bring back to these shores.

His owners – Matt Bain, a managing director of a minor player in mining, and breeders Richard and Kaye Waldron – knocked back a $2.3 million offer for the horse after he won the Winx Guineas last year late in his three-year old season.

Their high-stakes gamble paid off in the form of the $4.4 million winner’s cheque, and the thrill of winning one of Australian sport’s most coveted prizes.

When Laxon won with Ethereal in 2001, the race had just become international. The visitors had yet to crack the code but were getting close. The minor placegetters were both from Europe. This win could inspire a modern revival for the locals.

“Go the Aussie battlers,” Laxon, born in Wales, raised in New Zealand, and who now calls Australia home, said.

“There are horses that perform really well overseas over ground but I think in Australia because the racing is pretty tenacious, like Robbie said, it was quicker than it would be, and that probably doesn’t suit the Europeans so much.

“He knew that he had an amazing sprint from the Extreme Choice side. So I think you need to have sprinters and teach them to be stayers. That’s my theory anyway.”

It was after Knight’s Choice’s failure 12 months ago in the Golden Eagle – a race less than half of the two miles he covered at Flemington – when the trainer, or more accurately Laxon, hatched the plan to win this year’s Cup.

As the son of Extreme Choice, a sire of speed, the five-year-old should not have been running in the Melbourne Cup let alone winning it – but that is under-estimating the horsemanship of Laxon and Symons.

“Everybody tells me he’ll [Extreme Choice] never produce a stayer but if you can teach him to relax and he switches off and goes to sleep and saves all the energy, he can out sprint those stayers because they’re dour stayers,” Laxon said.

“Don’t expend any energy at all, and have that brilliant sprint at the finish – there you go, easy peasy.”

Laxon and Symons were confident they were on the right path in June when Knight’s Choice ran second behind Fawkner Park, an early Cups favourite, in the Q22, a $1.2 million weight-for-age race over 2200 metres.

But his lead-up form tested their faith – and that of punters who sent him out an unloved outsider at $91 – one of the race’s longest prices for a winner in its 164 runnings.

In four runs this campaign, Knight’s Choice, described as a “duffer in the wet” by Symons, finished no closer than five lengths from the winner, though, importantly, that came at his most recent start on a firm track.

“It got into the camp, we got a bit testy because we were getting the wet tracks and couldn’t see what the horse could do,” Symons said.

His run in the Bendigo Cup over 2400 metres, when an unlucky fifth behind Sea King, reinvigorated connections. If Sea King was being spruiked as a genuine contender, then Knight’s Choice did not deserve to be at such big odds, they thought. Bain clearly thought highly enough of their chances to take an overnight flight from his work base in China.

Their belief would have been tested again for all but a few seconds of the three-and-a-bit minutes of the race. Jockey Robbie Dolan settled Knight’s Choice in the final third of the field, further back than hoped, but the quicker-than-expected pace played into their hands. It was not until the final 50 metres when he hit the front.

Dolan’s decision to play for inside runs rather than fanning wide saved invaluable ground in a race where the margin was a mere half head.

“You don’t always get the break,” Symons said. “If Robbie gets held up today, he gets beat. Great ride, we win. You know what racing’s like, you don’t always get the breaks.”

This time they did, etching a most unlikely chapter into the race’s storied history.

“I love it being done for the Australians,” Laxon said. “The Australian horse did it. Robbie’s an Australian as well. I’m thrilled to win the Cup. It’s the people’s cup, that’s what it’s all about.”

Robbie Dolan and father Robert Dolan Senior celebrate after winning the 2024 Melbourne Cup on Knight’s Choice. (Picture: Nine.com.au)

‘This was the winning break’: Anatomy of one of the greatest rides in Cup history

Danny Russell (Sydney Morning Herald)

This was a Melbourne Cup finish that no one could have scripted.

The greatest jockey in the country, James McDonald, was sitting on the sidelines; the best horse in the land, Via Sistina, had bypassed the race; the biggest trainers in the country, Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher, were not fighting out the finish; and, yet, a little-known hoop on a horse that no one gave a chance delivered one of the greatest rides in the history of our greatest race.

Robbie Dolan must have felt like a modern-day Moses. He was seven lengths from the lead as the field turned from home, and facing an impossible task. Then a sea of horses parted in front of him.

“I’ve never ridden this race before, so I didn’t know what to expect,” he said.

“I just thought my best chance is if I get him to stay the trip and, hopefully, he can rattle home.”

Had Dolan hesitated once, had he copped a slight check in those hectic final moments, he would not have won. This is how he did it.

First 200m: ‘He just knew what to do’

Co-trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon knew something many others doubted – Knight’s Choice would run out the trip.

When they drew gate six, it must have brought a smile to their faces. They could not do any more, the rest was up to Dolan.

Knight’s Choice jumped cleanly from the barriers, but could not match the speed of Trust In You and Zardozi on his inside.

Crucially, though, he landed in front of Japanese runner Warp Speed from gate three – ultimately, this would prove the winning break.

Dolan was caught three wide – outside Zardozi and Trust In You – for the first 200m, but held his nerve and as Andrea Atzeni squirted forward on Zardozi, Knight’s Choice was able to settle one off the fence. At this stage, he was seven lengths off early leader Just Fine.

“We didn’t give him instructions, he just knew what to do,” Laxon said of Dolan’s ride.

To the naked eye, it was too early to spot the winner. Jamie Kah had positioned Okita Soushi behind leader Just Fine, Zardozi was behind her, while the three favourites – Buckaroo, Onesmoothoperator and Vauban – were caught back and wide. It was not what punters wanted to see.

As the field pushed past the finishing post for the first time Dolan, who once appeared on The Voice, must have been belting out a lullaby because he had practically put Knight’s Choice to sleep.

The five-year-old gelding was conserving his energy in the back third of the field. This would allow him to unleash a long, sustained burst at the back end of the race.

By now, Land Legend and Circle Of Fire had pushed up on leader Just Fine and injected speed into what many thought was going to be a slowly run race.

“I thought I’d be a pair closer, but they went quick,” Dolan said. “I just rode him for luck because I know he’s got a good turn of foot.”

This early pace would take the sting out of the sit-sprinters such as Kovalica, who finished ninth, and Buckaroo, 10th.

As the horses turned into the first bend, two of the pre-race fancies, Absurde and Sea King, were the last two horses in the race. It was game over for them.

Final 900m: It pays to cut corners

The field had been strung out by leader Just Fine at the 900 metre-mark, and the back markers waited until the 700 before starting to fan and make their moves.

At this stage, Zardozi and Okita Soushi were emerging as the dangers. Kah had cleverly manoeuvred Okita Soushi three off the fence, while Atzeni on Zardozi was making valuable ground along the rail.

All eyes then fanned wide because Buckaroo and Vauban were making their runs.

No one was looking for Knight’s Choice or Warp Speed. Why would you? They were caught back in the wash – still seven lengths off the lead.

When Warp Speed swung around the outside of Knight’s Choice, Dolan knew his moment had come. Together they started to pick their way through the field.

“There wasn’t enough room for me to come outside. So I decided to cut the corner,” Dolan said.

“Once my horse spotted the gap, he sort of changed legs and he just sort of picked up on me.”

By the 400m mark, Knight’s Choice and Warp Speed had made up four lengths, while Buckaroo and Vauban were dying on their runs.

“What a great ride by Robbie. You know he stayed in, he took the risk, went through the pack,” Symons said. “I was worried he got further back than we talked about, but what a great ride.”

Last 200m: ‘He found another gear’

Inside the final 200m, a fairytale looked to be unfolding. But it wasn’t the singing jockey on the 80-1 longshot that fans were cheering home.

It was Kah and James Cummings. Kah, hoping to become the second woman to win the Cup, had hit the front on Okita Soushi. Coming hard on her inside was Zardozi, trained by Cummings, grandson of the legendary Bart, who was chasing his first Cup.

Kah later admitted she became “excited at the 200”, but she was unaware of two freight trains closing from behind. “I thought he was going to hang on,” she said.

The runs kept opening for Knight’s Choice and Warp Speed as they closed at a growing rate of knots.

“Once I pulled the stick through, he found another gear again,” Dolan said. “He’s only a small little horse, but he gives his all every start.”

talkSport.com takes up the story:

A jockey who performed Let It Go on The Voice Australia has hit the jackpot after winning the Melbourne Cup.

Robbie Dolan, who is originally from Kildare in Ireland, rode Knight’s Choice to a photo-finish victory at the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Robbie Dolan won the Melbourne Cup on a horse some bookmakers had at 90/1.

It was a photo finish for the win, with runner-up Warp Speed and third was Okita Sushi.

Having moved to Australia in 2016 in search of better apprentice jockey opportunities, the Irish national has made quite the name for himself down under.

The 28-year-old is not just a sensation in the saddle, but knows how to wow with a microphone too.

After featuring on The Voice Australia in 2022, Dolan performed a rendition of James Bay’s Let It Go, turning three chairs in the process.

British singer and songwriter Rita Ora was one of the impressed judges, turning round in support of the Irish singer.

Dolan reached the quarter-final stage of the hit entertainment show where he was eventually knocked out, but it seems his racing career has only just begun.

He rode a 90-1 outsider on Knight’s Choice in the 2m handicap and beat the like of the Willie Mullins-trained duo Vauban (11th) and Absurde (5th) in a photo-finish for the cup.

Speaking to Channel Nine after the race, he said: “It’s incredible, I can’t believe it. I don’t even know what to say.

“I think I’ll be singing for the rest of my life after that. What the hell.

“I can’t put it [Melbourne Cup victory] into words” he added. “I have my family here and my partner Christine, our little baby Maisie, and my dad flew over from Ireland, and now you have me in tears.

Dolan’s grandfather Peadar Matthews won two Irish Classics in the 1960s and his parents Bobby and Paula were also jockeys, although he had never before competed in the Melbourne Cup.

The victory will see Dolan take home just over $220,000 (£112,000), as well as a miniature Melbourne Cup trophy which is worth $10,000 (£5,100).

Knight’s Choice’s trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon will also receive 10 per cent of the prizemoney.

The Melbourne Cup is worth more than $8million (£4.1million) and is known as ‘the race that stops a nation’.

WATCH ROBBIE DOLAN ON THE VOICE

Dave The King is still top of the Betway Summer Cup log, but has drifted out to 9/1 with the sponsor after his well beaten comeback run on Saturday (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

Johannesburg, 05 November 2024- 4Racing in conjunction with the Handicappers have published the final log for the 2024 R6 million Gr1 Betway Summer Cup set to be run at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday 30 November.

There have been no changes to the top three, with Equus Horse Of The Year DAVE THE KING still topping the log ahead of SEE IT AGAIN who registered an impressive victory in his preparation in a 1600m Pinnacle Stakes at Greyville on Sunday where he beat the third log horse and defending 2023 Summer Cup winner ROYAL VICTORY.

After a solid return to form winning the OnAMission Chairty Mile, 2023 Durban July winner WINCHESTER MANSION climbed four places and is fourth on the log, followed by MAIN DEFENDER in fifth.

The scratchings of COUSIN CASEY (4th Log 1) and FLAG MAN (7th Log 1) have allowed LITIGATION AND ZEUS to enter the top 20. Also scratched from the first log are RAISEAHALLELUJAH and JORDAN.

It is worth noting that 11 of the 14 carded runners in this weekend’s, 09 November, Betway Victory Moon Stakes (Grade 3) are entered in the Betway Summer Cup. All of MAIN DEFENDER, PURPLE PITCHER, PUERTO MANZANO, PURE PREDATOR, FUTURE PEARL, ATTICUS FINCH, SAFE PASSAGE and MY SOUL MATE appear in the top 20,

while ARAGOSTA, SHOEMAKER and THUNEE PLAYA are vying for their place in Africa’s Richest Race. It will certainly give an indication of how these runners are shaping up ahead of the big day.

Final entries at 9am on Monday, 18 November 2024, after which weights will be announced. Declarations must be in by 11am on Wednesday, 20 November 2024 and barrier draws will be conducted at a Betway event on 20 November 2024.

Great Plains was the first stakes winner for Japanese-bred sire Danon Platina and he remains his only stakes winner but has now added a Grade 3 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth to his Listed win last season at Hollywoodbets Greyville. However, some promising Danon Platina’s have been showing lately and it might herald a change in fortunes for the Mauritzfontein Stud-based sire. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Cape Breeders article with additions

Mauritzfontein’s inform stallion Danon Platina had a day to remember on Saturday. The champion son of Deep Impact had a pair of feature race winners at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the day.

Not only did Danon Platina’s son Great Plains win Saturday’s G3 Cape Classic, but the Danon Platina sired Luhamba Phambili won the Need For Speed Sprint on the same card.

Winner of last season’s Listed Hollywoodbets Sharks Gatecrasher Stakes, the Justin Snaith-trained Great Plains picked up his first graded win when victorious in Saturday’s Cape Classic over 1400 metres.

Under a superbly judged ride from Grant Van Niekerk, Great Plains flew up late to get up and win Saturday’s R300 000 contest by half a length.

It was a smart effort from Great Plains, with the gelded sophomore having made his seasonal debut on Saturday.

Bred by Drakenstein Stud, Great Plains has won four of just seven starts.

Great Plains is owned by Nick Jonsson, who has always believed in the sire, although general belief in the Japanese-bed son of the legendary Deep Impact had begun to dwindle with the black type returns being sparse. Hopefully, the floodgates will now open for Danon Platina.

Great Plains is out of the Var mare Mara.

Danon Platina is also the sire of Luhamba Phambili, who claimed his biggest to date when victorious in the Need For Speed Sprint (1000m) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Trained by Gareth Van Zyl, the gelded three-year-old was always up with the pace in Saturday’s sprint for three-year-olds. When Corne Orffer asked the question, Luhamba Phambili went on to win a shade cosily by a length.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Luhamba Phambili has won twice from just four starts.
Luhamba Phambili, who is out of the Silvano mare Simply Royal, was a R550 000 buy from the 2023 National Yearling Sale.

Danon Platina has been enjoying a good run of late and is also responsible for G2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge runner-up Wild At War, Listed Settlers Trophy runner-up Rapidash and smart recent debut winner Grey Jet among others.

Japan’s Champion 2YO Colt of 2014, Danon Platina won three of his four starts including the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes a race also won by such stars as Narita Brian, Fuji Kiseki, Admire Mars and Do Deuce.

Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith lead in Navy Strength, whom Greg owns in partnership with Nancy Hossack. Navy Strength clinched a treble for Justin Snaith (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Justin Snaith clinched the last three legs of the first Jackpot at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today (Tuesday) and goes to 47 wins for the seasons at a strike rate of 15.61%.

The three winners, Regulation (Legislate), Gimmethatpearl (Gimmethegreenlight) and Navy Strength (Dynasty) were ridden by Grant van Niekerk, Sean Veale and JP van der Merwe respectively.

Veale later clinched a double and goes to 41 wins for the season at a strike rate of 13.62%.

Navy Strength was an interesting winner as he comes from a top broodmare in Spring Lilac and is a half-brother to the like of dual Gr 1 winner Snowdance, who is the dam of Snow Pilot.

His form this season has not been bad and yet this 94-rated six-year-old went off at odds of 16/1, although he did have to carry topweight of 61,5kg.

Graham Hawkins (Gold Circle) wrote the below full report on the meeting.

Graeme Hawkins

Garrix (5/10) was, as the betting suggested, expected to win the second race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday but it was the manner of victory that stamps this 3yo Vercingetorix colt as an exciting prospect and one to follow. Trained by Piet Steyn and ridden by Richard Fourie, Garrix was a long way off the pace at the halfway stage of this Maiden 1200m, but he quickly dispelled any concerns his legion of supporters may have harboured by quickening smartly and forging clear to win in some style.

I am not one for exaggerated superlatives when assessing young unexposed horses, but I must confess to being hugely impressed by his performance at only the second time of asking and surely a bright future beckons. He was runner-up when unfancied in a strong line-up on debut and Garrix has clearly improved a great deal since that introduction in September.

Miraculous, who shortened from 2/1 to 8/10, got punters off to a flying start when taking out the first race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m, with an emphatic victory over Englefield Green and Hope Chest.

Berry’s Boogie, an Australian-bred daughter of Churchill (Ire), took out the third race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m, with a minimum of fuss. Always handy, Berry’s Boogie (4/1) was always travelling smoothly and had more than enough in hand to ward off the attentions of the improving Winter Gamble. The well supported Spinmyangelspin (2/1) faded out of contention approaching the final 300m, finishing unplaced seven lengths off the winner.

The fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1200m, was interesting. Five of the twelve runners went down the inside with the balance of the field moving toward the outside rail. As it turned out, the inside group was always well clear of the outside bunch and filled the first five placings with Golden Destiny, who kept to his station from Gate 2, storming home to win unchallenged. The Dean Kannemeyer-trained 3yo son of Rafeef has always been held in high regard and he finally put his act together at the fifth attempt. His market rival, Crescent, was one of those that made a beeline for the stands side rail (from Gate 3) and he was never a factor thereafter.

The favourite Marine Merchant was a late TCO2 scratching from the fifth race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, and unfortunately for Jackpot and Pick 6 players, the substitute market leader Honor Of Kings was narrowly upstaged by his lesser fancied stable companion Regulation, a three-parts brother to July winner Belgarion. Snaith then secured a race-to-race double as Gimmethatpearl (8/1) ran on doggedly to land the sixth race, a Class 3 Handicap over 1400m, ahead of the Candice Bass-Robinson pair of Callmegetrix and Fun Zone.

The seventh race, a Cape B Stakes over 1800m, produced a thrilling finish with Navy Strength (16/1) flashing home from some way off the pace to nail King Pelles (15/10) in the final few strides. Lightning Glow stayed on well to finish a close third ahead of Marshall Field who rounded out the Quartet. Navy Strength’s fifth career success completed a perfect treble for the Snaith team.

The picture gives a clue to the answer

Who is the longest priced winner of the Melbourne Cup?