Melbourne Cup champion set to resume

By Trent Crebbin 

Knight’s Choice will kick off his campaign on Saturday at Eagle Farm.

A Melbourne Cup defence didn't go to plan in the spring for Knight's Choice, but co-trainer John Symons is hopeful of getting the 2024 champion back to Flemington when he resumes in the Listed Brisbane Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The son of Extreme Choice produced one of the biggest upset results in Melbourne Cup history, winning at an official starting price of $91 but has only been seen at the races once since.

The six-year-old gelding had his 2025 spring campaign derailed after running first-up at Moonee Valley.

Symons trains in partnership with Sheila Laxon, who was the trainer of 2001 Melbourne Cup champion Ethereal.

Symons said their Cup hero had taken no ill effects from his injury and they were looking forward to Saturday.

"He'll just potter around this week, he had a trial last Wednesday so he's pretty ready," Symons said.

"I'm very happy with him. That's why we decided to give him a run; he needs a run. He's going to be a bit rusty, of course. He hasn't raced that much for the last 18 months, unfortunately.

"He just whacked the back of his fetlock and it just took a bit to subside and we were just overcautious."

Symons is focusing on a Brisbane winter campaign with Knight's Choice.

"He'll run a respectable race," Symons said.

"You've got to remember he did win four mile races as a three-year-old, including the Winx Guineas, and then I think he ran second at Doomben behind Gringotts in a mile Listed race.

"We want to get to the Q22 with him, we'll probably have a look at the Hollindale and the Doomben Cup, but I just want to see how he's going.

"The Melbourne Cup is the long-term goal, as long as he's going well and we're happy with him, that's what we'll do."