LAXON WINS, BUT THE EQUINE VERSION

Unlike his famous namesake, Darci Brahma 3YO just tasted his first success in Malaysia

- Michael Lee

To hear that Laxon is not a maiden anymore since May 18 will sound strange to Singapore racegoers.

It is not only an anachronism, but it also feels like one of those cheeky conundrums the late legendary trainer Laurie Laxon was famous for.

For a start, he already boasted a raft of wins, including a Melbourne Cup (1988 with Empire Rose), under his belt when he moved from his native New Zealand to Kranji in 2000.

More notably, he went on to annex nine Singapore champion trainer titles, courtesy of a bumper haul of 1,263 winners, including 17 at Group 1 level.

He retired in 2017 and returned to New Zealand where he died on July 15, 2021.

Three years after his passing at the age of 75, his name now lives on through a horse named Laxon.

It is not quite at the place he has called home for 17 years, but close-Malaysia, where he did snag a Penang Gold Cup with Expunge and the MRA Cup with Why Be in 2006.

Laxon is a Darci Brahma three-year-old who broke through for his first win at his seventh start under apprentice Fikri Ismail in an Open Maiden 1,200m event at Kuala Lumpur on May 18.