Favourite delivers at Flemington

Point of Law won the 2026 Melbourne Cup on November 3, leading a sweep of the first three places for trainer Ciaron Maher. The short-priced favourite finished ahead of Zahrann and Juja Kibo in the 3,200-metre handicap at Flemington Racecourse, with all three horses coming from Maher's stable.

The victory gave jockey Ethan Brown a Melbourne Cup win on his first attempt. It also came in only Point of Law's sixth career start and his first race over the full Cup distance. The three-year-old had strengthened his credentials by winning the Geelong Cup on his Australian debut after Maher purchased him from King Charles.

Point of Law started from barrier nine. The early pace was instead set by another Maher-trained runner, Royal Supremacy, which broke from barrier 21 and opened an eight-length advantage by the 1,500-metre point. That lead grew to about 20 lengths with 1,000 metres remaining before the front-runner began to tire. Point of Law moved past with roughly 150 metres left and completed the stable's dominant result.

A demanding two-mile test

The Melbourne Cup carried prize money of A$10 million, approximately US$7.2 million, and attracted a field of 23. The event has been held since 1861 and remains a public holiday in Victoria, reflecting its place in Australian sporting culture.

Several recent Cup names returned without repeating earlier success. Jamie Melham, who became the second woman to ride a Cup winner when Half Yours prevailed in 2025, rode Future History to 16th after Half Yours was ruled out following a fall at the Caulfield Cup. Robbie Dolan partnered 2024 winner Knight's Choice to sixth.

There was also a late change before the race. Asterix, trained by Chris Waller and due to be ridden by 2020-winning jockey Jye McNeil, was scratched after stewards found a prohibited muscle-strain medication on both forelegs. Waller described it as a simple mistake and received a fine.

For Point of Law, the result compressed an unusual amount of progression into a short career: a move from royal ownership, victory in his first Australian start and then success at a distance he had never previously raced. Brown credited Maher's continuing support after the finish.

The one-two-three result was equally significant for the trainer. In a race whose long distance and large field routinely test positioning and stamina, Maher prepared the winner and both nearest challengers, while an aggressive early strategy from another stable runner helped shape the contest.