Winning trainer Sheila Laxon reveals her lucky charm after second Melbourne Cup triumph
Updated . First published at
Sheila Laxon has revealed she was wearing a pendant necklace with some of 2001 Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal's hair in it, during Knight's Choice's historic victory.
Laxon has a perfect strike rate in the biggest race in the country, now the trainer of two winners from two entries after her previous triumph in 2001.
And she's thanking her daughter for that special pendant, which she believes was their good luck charm at Flemington.
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"My daughter got me this little pendant for my birthday. It's got Ethereal's hair in it," Laxon revealed post win.
"You've got to wear it on Melbourne Cup day."
Robbie Dolan and Shiela Laxon rejoice as they hold the 2024 Melbourne Cup aloft. Getty
And whether you believe in good luck charms or not, it's obvious that was magic all around Laxon and training partner John Symons.
It even left Knight's Choice's owner Cameron Bain brimming with confidence pre-race.
"I said to Sheils, 'how do you think we're going to go?' as we were driving back from the stables to go and get changed," he said afterwards.
"She said, 'we're going to win'. And guess what? We just won the Melbourne Cup."
Similar to Knight's Choice, who won the Cup as an $85 shot with the bookies, Ethereal wasn't expected to do much damage, either.
"In 2001, I really wasn't expecting that to happen," Laxon said.
"It actually was a real relief when she got to the line, because I wasn't sure whether we'd been ... training her correctly."
Laxon's confidence that inspired the team to enter Knight's Choice into the 2024 race, despite feeling they would be forced to rely on conditions.
Robbie Dolan riding Knight's Choice in the Melbourne Cup. Getty
"The Melbourne Cup was put on the table probably 12 months ago ... by Sheila," Bain said.
"Just, 'how do we get there and what do we do?'. That was always the grand final.
"Today, hot weather, firm track. I had a really good feeling that was when he was going to show his best.
"That's the summary of the prep. We just needed things to line up."
Sheila Laxon celebrates Ethereal's Melbourne Cup win in 2001. Getty
And line up they did.
As for what is next for Laxon, she's just going to take it all in, one race at a time.
"Go the Aussie battlers, unbeaten," Laxon said.