Knight's Choice resurfaces with impressive jump-out

Veteran trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon are seeing positive signs from their Melbourne Cup victor, Knight's Choice.

The accomplished gelding has had a limited racing campaign, competing in only four races since clinching the 2024 Melbourne Cup.

A previous strangles diagnosis prevented a title defence last year, and persistent wet weather in Queensland during the winter months hampered any attempts for Knight's Choice to regain winning form.

However, with the Melbourne weather turning favourable recently, Knight's Choice demonstrated a resurgence of his past brilliance, winning a jump-out at Caulfield Heath this Wednesday morning.

This performance led Symons to comment, 'I don't think I've seen him trial better than that'.

"We couldn't be happier with where he is at," Symons said.

"He's had a mixed way of life since he won the Cup.

"He's always had the ability to do it, (but he's a) wet track duffer, (but) dry track, like today, you see what he can do."

According to Symons, jockey Dylan Dunn suggested Knight's Choice could have easily extended his margin over the field.

Knight's Choice requires qualification to participate in this year's Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, having been absent from last year's spring carnival.

"Three months we were locked up for," Symons stated.

"We couldn't do anything with him, and he actually got strangles and was the last horse to get a clearance and he didn't get cleared until December.

"He's back now, on all cylinders. We were happy with him up in Queensland, but it just kept on raining.

"His work was compromised up there, but the good thing is he's had that time away in the sun.

"I don't think I've seen him trial better than that. Dylan said he could have put them away easily, so I'm pretty happy with where we've got him.

"I wouldn't expect too much from his first couple of runs, but after that I would expect to see what he can do."

Symons indicated that he and Laxon would now focus on planning his upcoming race program.

"We'll look for a mile race, wherever that may be, but it's probably got to be a quality handicap or a weight-for-age race," Symons explained.

"We've entered him for the Caulfield Cup, and we'll probably look to take a similar path as the one we took in the year he won the Melbourne Cup."

Explore the latest racing betting markets at online bookmakers.