Group One-winning trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon hope to celebrate their decision to move to Queensland with a winning double at Eagle Farm.
The two have had much success as solo trainers with Laxon best known for winning the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double with Ethereal in 2001 while Symons trained Bel Esprit to win the 2002 Blue Diamond Stakes and Doomben 10,000 the following year.
They have been partners on and off the track for a decade in Victoria and Symons said they had originally come to Queensland with the idea of going into semi-retirement.
“But we have been at the Sunshine Coast and really enjoying it. Things have been going OK and we have decided to stay and have applied for our Queensland co-trainers licence,” Symons said.
“We have 16 boxes at the track at the moment and are looking at expanding to about 30.”
He said the Sunshine Coast was an ideal venue to train horses.
“You have got the major training tracks, the bush trails at the back and the pool. It is ideal for us,” he said.
Symons and Laxon have had eight winners since coming north in May with Denoninator and Irish Constabulary leading the way.
The pair look major chances in their races on Saturday with the Denoninator to tackle the UMS Schoolwear Hcp (2200m) and Irish Constabulary the Barambah Organics Hcp (1200m)
“Denoninator hasn’t had a lot of luck lately,” Symons said.
“He got caught deep in a $100,000 race on Ipswich Cup day and last start Rebecca Williams rode him very well but got caught in the inferior ground at Eagle Farm.
“He only got beaten a lip so we are looking forward to Saturday with him.”
Apprentice Sarah Eilbeck, who is back from a holiday in her native England, will claim 3kg on Denoninator.
Irish Constabulary has also been consistent and was second to star mare Hidden Pearl at his last start.
“There is no Hidden Pearl this time and Irish Constabulary did get through Eagle Farm well last start,” Symons said.
