Point of Law justified favouritism to win the 166th Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse, capping a historic training performance by Ciaron Maher, who became the first trainer in the race’s 166 editions to secure the entire podium The Guardian.
Point of Law Wins at Flemington
Ridden by Ethan Brown, the three-year-old stallion reeled in a breakaway stablemate on the home stretch to claim victory in the $10m feature race The Guardian. The triumph marked Maher’s second victory in the prestigious event, following his 2022 win co-trainer with David Eustace Sky Sports. Maher fielded a record seven runners in the race, ultimately sweeping the top three spots as Zahrann finished second and Juja Kibo placed third The Guardian.
A Dramatic Race Unfolds
Royal Supremacy surged ahead in the early stages and stretched its lead to as much as 20 lengths by the 1,000-metre mark ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation. As Royal Supremacy maintained a commanding advantage around the turn and into the long straight, Brown kept his mount composed ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
A name for the history books 🏆 POINT OF LAW storms clear to claim the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup for @Brown_ethan8 and @cmaherracing.#MelbourneCup pic.twitter.com/nEaf3MmI7p
I just tried to stay cool and stay patient, cut the bend and once he got that clear run in, his turn of foot was enormous,
Brown said RTE. Point of Law unleashed a powerful finishing burst in the final stretch, overhauling the frontrunner and drawing away to win by 3.75 lengths ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Maher admitted he did not anticipate such a massive early margin from Royal Supremacy, noting that the event proved to be a true staying test The Guardian. I certainly didn't know Royal Supremacy was going to lead by that far, but there's nothing better than a true staying test,
Maher told Channel Nine ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It has been a whirlwind but I'm very proud of all the team to get three horses in the first three spots.
2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup winners Ethan Brown and Ciaron Maher 🏆#melbournecup pic.twitter.com/TSVQw1GJMn
Point of Law Wins Geelong Cup After Royal Transfer
Point of Law began his career in the United Kingdom, where he raced for John and Thady Gosden and was previously owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla Sky Sports. After winning the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July, the horse was bought privately and transitioned to Australia, where he tuned up for the Cup by winning the Geelong Cup The Guardian, Sky Sports.
For jockey Ethan Brown, the victory marked a stunning career redemption following a severe race fall three years prior that nearly cost him his life and sidelined him for months The Guardian, BBC. Brown expressed deep gratitude toward Maher for continuous support and faith through difficult periods ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sky Sports.
Chris Waller Fined Fifty Thousand Dollars over Race Day Treatment
Prominent trainer Chris Waller was fined $50,000 after his runner Asterix was scratched The Guardian. Race stewards found that the horse had received a morning application of penetrene, an anti-inflammatory medication, constituting a breach of the strict blanket ban on race-day treatments The Guardian, BBC. Waller described the incident as a mistake made by staff under race-day pressure The Guardian, BBC, leaving him with only one starter, Soul of Spain, who finished 13th The Guardian.
Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien entered five horses into the field ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Some familiar Royal Ascot 2026 faces are set for another big occasion in the Melbourne Cup, including our Ascot Stakes winner Kizlyar. Best of luck to all the teams 🏆🇦🇺@werribeeracing | @RacingVictoria | @FlemingtonVRC | @JosephOBrien2 | @gbougheyracing | @cmaherracing |… pic.twitter.com/lusXSxGtPE
Sons and Lovers achieved the best result by finishing fourth under jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle The Guardian, ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Joseph O'Brien could become the youngest trainer to win three Melbourne Cups if one of his five runners succeeds in the early hours of tomorrow morning 🇦🇺 Take a look back at Ireland's previous triumphs in the race that stops a nation 👉 https://t.co/09NpsiQ2Si pic.twitter.com/MnV1NIrLWk
More on Point of Law
"The Melbourne Cup is one of those big races in the world that everyone watches" Dylan Browne McMonagle has high hopes for Sons And Lovers in the Flemington feature… 🏆https://t.co/9AHsZkdyj9
Dispel the rumours: Ciaron Maher DIDN'T hang up on The King when he was buying Point of Law 😂 He runs through his best three on Melbourne Cup Day. pic.twitter.com/x0y9mDHNjQ
POINT OF LAW WINS THE 2026 MELBOURNE CUP! The result tops a Ciaron Maher-trained trifecta, with the winner ridden by Ethan Brown, backing up his victory at the Geelong Cup. pic.twitter.com/ViPtlXmYAP
Point of Law wins the Melbourne Cup at start no.6 and Ciaron Maher has ran the trifecta! Looked like the Aidan O'Brien style pacemaker tactics were deployed there…
🏆 The Geelong Cup pathway has been successful once again, the Ciaron Maher trained POINT OF LAW ($7) has won the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup.@HKhutchi & @simonmarshall33 had him on top on #GetOn & #GetOnExtra, @TimYeatman followed suit on #GetOnBlackbook pic.twitter.com/pGypHZdxMQ