Victoria handler Ciaron Maher boasted strength in numbers in 2026, with seven of the 23-runner field hailing from his Cranbourne yard. Of those runners, Point Of Law was the punters’ pick. Formerly owned by HM The King and HM The Queen when based with John and Thady Gosden, the Frankel colt joined Maher in August 2026. Having won the Geelong Cup on yard debut, he started as the 6/1 favourite.
Joseph O’Brien couldn’t quite match Maher’s seven-strong entry but wasn’t far behind, with five runners. With the well-fancied Defiantly failing his veterinary check, O’Brien’s main hope was the JP McManus-owned Trustyourinstinct. The 2025 runner-up Goodie Two Shoes, Epsom Derby third James J Braddock, top-weight Sons And Lovers, and Ascot Stakes winner Kizlyar completed the O’Brien quintet.
Others to note included Shockletz, who sought to follow in the hoofprints of his sire, Shocking, who won the 2009 edition; George Boughey’s Hopewell Rock, who went down by just a head in the Ebor, and Harry Charlton’s Geoffrey Freer Stakes winner Wine Dark Sea.
Result
- 1st – Point Of Law 6/1F, Jockey: Ethan Brown, Trainer: Ciaron Maher
- 2nd – Zahrann 25/1, Jockey: Ben Melham, Trainer: Ciaron Maher
- 3rd – Juja Kibo 13/1, Jockey: Sam Clipperton, Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £2,227,722.77
- 2nd – £549,504.95
- 3rd – £277,227.72
- 4th – £178,217.82
- 5th – £118,811.88
- 6th – 12th – £79,207.92
- 13th – 23rd – £49,504.95
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – A$7.80
- Tote Places – 1st – A$3.10, 2nd – A$11, 3rd – A$4.40
- Exacta – A$239.60
- Trifecta – A$2,644.50
Recap
Juja Kibo broke best when the stalls opened to lead Future History and Mr Monaco up the centre of the track. However, the fast starters from the low stalls soon grabbed the overall advantage. Soul Of Spain led the way, followed by So You Are to his outer and Sons And Lovers towards the inside. Hopewell Rock tracked across to the inside having missed the break, Point Of Law sat in midfield, with Trustyourinstinct and James J Braddock bringing up the rear.
Moving into the first bend, Royal Supremacy had overcome his high draw in stall 20 to cut across the field and set about making the running. Fellow high-drawn runners Vauban and Kizlyar followed the new leader across to race handily. Goodie Two Shoes and Mr Monaco sat fourth and fifth ahead of So You Are and Soul Of Spain. Sons And Lovers now sat in mid-division alongside Juja Kibo, with the pair just ahead of Point Of Law.
Royal Supremacy began to pour on the pace in the back straight, quickly pulling seven lengths clear of Kizlyar in second, who sat two lengths ahead of Vauban in third. Goodie Two Shoes and Mr Monaco came next, as an increasingly strung-out field clustered against the rail.
Royal Supremacy kicked again into the home turn, moving a dozen lengths clear of his nearest pursuer, Kizlyar. Turning into the home straight, Royal Supremacy and Ben Allen had forged fully 20 lengths clear of the pack. Those in behind were beginning to launch their challenges, but would they get there in time?
Royal Supremacy was still 12 clear at the three-furlong pole. Juja Kibo and a charging Zahrann led the chasing pack, with Point Of Law making rapid headway on the far side. Only three lengths ahead with a furlong to go, Royal Supremacy was swamped on either side. Zahrann and Juja Kibo moved past to his outer, with Sons And Lovers overhauling him to the inside. However, none came close to matching Point Of Law’s electric finishing burst. Kicking clear inside the final 100 yards, the three-year-old pulled almost four lengths clear to run out an impressive winner. Zahrann stuck on for second, with Juja Kibo taking third.
A second Melbourne Cup for Ciaron Maher, who became the first trainer in history to saddle the 1-2-3. This also completed a spectacular turnaround for jockey Ethan Brown, who claimed Australia’s most famous race three years after suffering life-threatening injuries in a fall at Flemington.
Runners
- 1. Sons And Lovers – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
- 2. Trustyourinstinct – SP: 17/2, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Jockey: James McDonald
- 3. Knight’s Choice – SP: 40/1, Trainer: John Symons & Sheila Laxon, Jockey: Robbie Dolan
- 4. Middle Earth – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Ciaron Maher, Jockey: Mark Zahra
- 5. Vauban – SP: 60/1, Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Jockey: Jordan Childs
- 6. Enfjaar – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Roger Varian, Jockey: Ray Dawson
- 7. Royal Supremacy – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Ciaron Maher, Jockey: Ben Allen
- 8. Wine Dark Sea – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Harry Charlton, Jockey: Damian Lane
- 9. Asterix – Non-Runner
- 10. Goodie Two Shoes – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Jockey: Wayne Lordan
- 11. Juja Kibo – SP: 13/1, Trainer: Ciaron Maher, Jockey: Sam Clipperton
- 12. Hopewell Rock – SP: 13/2, Trainer: George Boughey, Jockey: Zac Lloyd
- 13. Onesmoothoperator – SP: 70/1, Trainer: Tim Fitzimmons, Jockey: Declan Bates
- 14. Soul Of Spain – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Chris Waller, Jockey: Tommy Berry
- 15. Zahrann – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Ciaron Maher, Jockey: Ben Melham
- 16. So You Are – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Bjorn Baker, Jockey: Rachel King
- 17. Future History – SP: 60/1, Trainer: Gregory Hickman, Jockey: Jamie Melham
- 18. James J Braddock – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Jockey: Craig A Williams
- 19. Kizlyar – SP: 60/1, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Jockey: Beau Mertens
- 20. Point Of Law – SP: 6/1F, Trainer: Ciaron Maher, Jockey: Ethan Brown
- 21. Strictly Business – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Thomas D Carberry, Jockey: Dean Yendall
- 22. Mr Monaco – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Ciaron Maher, Jockey: Jabez Johnstone
- 23. Zakouma – SP: 30/1, Trainer: Grahame Begg, Jockey: William Pike
- 24. Shockletz – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Ciaron Maher, Jockey: Harry Coffey
Non-Runners
Asterix (medication)