- Knight’s Choice stunned Australia by winning the Cup
- Leading figure behind victory opens up about health battle
Melbourne Cup-winning trainer John Symons has revealed how a concerned friend saved his life after urging him to go to hospital when he suffered crippling back pain.
It was late 2019, and Symons went to see a doctor on the Sunshine Coast.
Subsequent scans revealed grim news – Symons had a tumour on his lung as cancer from an undetected melanoma engulfed his body.
‘They told me that I should get my things in order because I probably only had three months to live,’ Symons told Racenet.
‘The cancer bloke in charge put me immunotherapy and I had four double doses… they wouldn’t operate, because the cancer was across both lobes of my lungs.
‘The next 12 months, I spent probably eight months in hospital… thankfully it worked and now I’ve just won the Melbourne Cup.’
Symons’ wife Laxon said her husband’s diagnosis was ‘pretty horrendous’ at the time – and they hope his story will inspire other people facing a similar situation.
On Tuesday at Flemington, Symons and co-trainer Sheila Laxon stunned the field to win Australia’s most prestigious race.
Melbourne Cup winning co-trainer John Symons (right) has revealed how a concerned friend saved his life after urging him to go to hospital in 2019 for crippling back pain treatment
Irish jockey Robbie Dolan delivered on the big stage for John Symons, winning the Melbourne Cup on outsider Knight’s Choice (pictured)
Robbie Dolan’s stunning victory shocked racing fans around Australia – but the jockey was always quietly confident
Dolan asked NRL legend – and former trackwork jockey – Billy Slater if he could confirm the result after Knight’s Choice was in a photo finish with Warp Speed
Irish-born, Queensland-based jockey Robbie Dolan – previously a singer on Aussie reality show The Voice – steered the 66-1 shot to victory, edging out Warp Speed as they went to the line together.
Remarkably, Dolan asked NRL legend and former trackwork rider Billy Slater – who was on horseback interviewing jockeys for Channel 9 – if he had won the race that stops a nation.
‘Yeah, it felt like a lifetime hacking around with Billy Slater to see if I won or not,’ Dolan said post-race.
‘I said, ‘Did I win or not?’ – Dolan said Slater replied: ‘Mate, are you having a lend?’
Dolan – from County Kildare, west of Dublin – arrived in Australia eight years ago and soon fell in love with the country.
The 28-year-old’s stunning ride at Flemington has further cemented the relationship with his adopted home.
‘I was young and immature [in Ireland] and I probably needed to go somewhere to expand my experience,’ Dolan said of his move.
‘I planned on coming for one year and I’ve been here for eight….and now I’ve won a Melbourne Cup….’I don’t see myself going home anytime soon.’
