2024 Melbourne Cup court action: Knight’s Choice trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon to sue Racing Victoria for prizemoney

The 2024 Melbourne Cup fairytale of $91 roughie Knight’s Choice is headed to the courts with the trainers lodging legal action against Racing Victoria to demand their prizemoney from winning the famous race.

The Knight’s Choice Melbourne Cup fairytale has taken an explosive new turn, with the horse’s Queensland trainers suing Racing Victoria to demand their $464,640 cut for winning the famous race.

Racenet has learned John Symons and Sheila Laxon have launched District Court action against RV after their Cup winnings were deposited into an old bank account they no longer have access to.

RV insists it simply put the money into the account it had on file and claimed it has since tried to help the trainers.

The money has not been passed onto Symons and Laxon from the person who is now believed to operate that account.

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It is understood RV recently sent an individual a letter of demand in relation to the matter.

However it is RV who is in the crosshairs of Symons and Laxon and the trainers confirmed that action had been lodged in the Queensland District Court.

A January 31 legal letter that contains a statement of claim has been seen by Racenet. RV has been given 28 days to file a notice of an intention to defend.

Never in doubt 🔥

Belief was high for trainers of KNIGHT'S CHOICE John Symons and Sheila Laxon.

🎥 @wwos | #MelbourneCup | #MelbCupCarnivalpic.twitter.com/L2phMvbOlM

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 5, 2024

• How Racenet’s Ben Dorries revealed the Melbourne Cup trainers’ prizemoney saga

RV issued the following statement to Racenet on Wednesday evening: “We are not able to comment in any detail given that the matter is now the subject of proceedings, however note that RV has paid out all Melbourne Cup prizemoney as required, including to the bank account registered with us for Ms Laxon and Mr Symons’ trainer prizemoney payments in Victoria.

“We have taken the steps available to us to assist Ms Laxon and Mr Symons in recovering the money from what RV has subsequently been advised is their former account.”

Racenet first revealed the story last month that the trainers’ prizemoney for the race that stops the nation was paid into an old bank account that the trainers no longer use.

Knight's Choice ridden by Robbie Dolan won the 2024 Melbourne Cup at $91. Picture: Racing Photos

• How chance meeting set up Sheila Laxon and Robbie Dolan’s Melbourne Cup triumph

The fresh legal saga is threatening to further sour the incredible Melbourne Cup triumph of Knight’s Choice, a $91 roughie who shocked the world by winning the famous race last November.

It was Symons’ first Melbourne Cup win and also the first time a Queensland-trained horse had won the Cup.

It maintained Laxon’s unblemished Melbourne Cup record after she previously won the Cup with Ethereal, who won the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double in 2001.

“It’s a fairytale ending!”

Two-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer, Sheila Laxon on what it takes to train a champion horse and why 2024 winner, Knight’s Choice is such a “dude” 😎#MelbCupCarnival#MelbourneCup#CupDaypic.twitter.com/FdsEVBHBdB

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 6, 2024

• Melbourne Cup trailblazer Sheila Laxon becomes a legend

Since scoring the 2024 Cup, Laxon and Symons have gone on promotional tours with the trophy.

The Australian Trainers’ Association has been assisting the pair with their efforts to recover the Melbourne Cup prizemoney.

Originally published as 2024 Melbourne Cup court action: Knight’s Choice trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon to sue Racing Victoria for prizemoney