Sheila Laxon and John Symons eyeing Mooloolaba Cup success

Melbourne Cup winning trainer Sheila Laxon is proud of her group one achievements with partner John Symons as the pair now aims for Magic Millions and Mooloolaba Cup success.

It’s been 20 years since prominent racing trainer Sheila Laxon was able to write her name in the history books after achieving the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double but she says the passion for success still burns strong.

Laxon, who now trains alongside her partner John Symons on the Sunshine Coast, was also the first female trainer to win the Melbourne Cup in 2001 with her mighty mare Ethereal and jockey Scott Seamer.

The horse-racing legend joined forces with Symons in 2006 and have tasted plenty of group one glory with major wins at the Blue Diamond Stakes and the Doomben 10,000.

Symons and Laxon are now aiming for more success in the Mooloolaba Cup on November 20.

“The horse I have in mind is Southern Swing but John thinks it may need a run,” Laxon said.

“He’s only just come into the stable and he had a good 1000m trial about a month ago.

“I just love everything I see about him and he has a wonderful temperament so hopefully a good starting point will be the Mooloolaba Cup in two weeks time.”

Ethereal's trainer Sheila Laxon and son John celebrate as she crosses the finish line to win the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 6, 2001. Picture: Richard Cisar-Wright

Laxon was born in England and moved to New Zealand, where she was a rider and then a trainer, who made her presence known with successful performances at many Australian race meetings.

Symons is well known to Queenslanders through his winning exploits with Bel Esprit, the sire of Black Caviar.

After starting their partnership in Victoria the pair moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2016.

Group one winning racing trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon have been located on the Sunshine Coast since 2016. Picture: Patrick Woods

Laxon said the change of scenery to Caloundra had been amazing.

“We’re able to bounce our ideas off of each other and both work to our strengths,” Laxon said.

“We come from different backgrounds so I’m not used to the environment here but we agree that these facilities are some of the best in the world.”

Symons said the aim for the following months was preparing a number of his stable’s top runners for the Magic Millions carnival on the Gold Coast in January.

“We’d like to think there’s a couple here that will reach the Magic Millions so at the moment we’re trying to get a few of them in order,” Symons said.

“So Dapper ran last year in the 1800m and finished second to a very good horse in Parade.

“He’s one we’re trying to get back there again and there’s a couple of four-year-olds and two-year-olds that are tracking well.”