Favourite Point of Law has won a thrilling 2026 Melbourne Cup as trainer Ciaron Maher sensationally pulled of a historic trifecta in the great race.
Point of Law, ridden by Ethan Brown, surged home to overpower the field after outsider Royal Supremacy tore away early and took a huge lead running into the straight.
Zahrann finished second, ahead of Juja Kibo and Sons and Lovers in fourth.
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“Please don’t wake me up. It’s an amazing feeling,” Brown said post-race.
“It’s been well documented he (Ciaron Maher) talked me out of horse training and he’s supported me and backed me.
“Quite speechless.
“He has the best turn of foot in the race by far. I had to stay cool, cut the benc and once he got the clear running, he was too good.
“He’s going to be a superstar.”
Point of Law won the Geelong Cup in dominant fashion to secure his place in the Cup. He lost favouritism for much of race day to fancied English runner Hopewell Rock but reclaimed betting favouritism in the last 15 minutes before the race.
Hopewell Rock finished ninth while Royal Supremacy, ridden boldly by Ben Allen, held on gamely for fifth ahead of Shockletz.
MORE TO COME
FINISHING ORDER: Where every horse placed from first to last
DIVIDENDS: What the winner, trifecta and first 4 paid
PREDICTIONS: Who backed the winner?
MORE TO COME
LIVE UPDATES (if the blog does not appear, click here)
WALLER FINED AS CUP RUNNER SCRATCHED
Earlier, trainer Chris Waller has received a $50,000 fine from Racing Victoria stewards after Cup runner Asterix was scratched due to being found to have a prohibited substance applied on its legs.
Waller owned up to the ‘simple mistake’.
“The horse gets the same treatment every day, it’s a very basic liniment most stables use and I guess the pressure of race day, the person that looks after the horse, put it on his legs right in front of the security guard, nothing to hide,” Waller told News Corp.
“The pressure of raceday, a very simple mistake.
“Nothing was hidden, the security guard was right there, as soon as it happened we knew there was a problem.
“It’s not her (the stablehand’s) fault, I’ve got to wear the responsibility, it’s my team. It’s rare for us to make mistakes but the pressure of raceday, you can’t explain how it affects everybody, everyone is on edge on Melbourne Cup Day and you think a little bit differently.”
Chief steward Rob Montgomery admitted the stable’s error was a ‘mistake’ and took into account Waller’s outstanding record with stewards.
According to Racing Victoria, Waller’s horse Asterix was discovered to have medication Penetrene on both forelegs by RV stewards.
The application of Penetrene on raceday is prohibited, hence Asterix was scratched.
It means that there will only be 23 runners in the great race.
“Acting on a report from the Racing Victoria (RV) Compliance Assurance Team (CAT), RV Stewards today interviewed trainer Chris Waller, after it had been established that Asterix, which was engaged to compete in Race 7 at Flemington, the Lexus Melbourne Cup, was found to have had the medication Penetrene administered to both forelegs in its stable on race morning,” stewards said via a RV statement.
“Penetrene is a topical product marketed as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic liniment. Penetrene is used topically on horses for symptomatic relief of muscle strains, sprains and muscle soreness.
“Any substance administered to a horse on raceday, including any topical application amongst any other route of administration is considered a medication.
“Evidence was taken from Mr Waller, members of his stable staff, Mr Tim George (RV CAT) and Dr Edwina Wilkes (RV Regulatory Veterinarian).
“Subsequently acting under AR 249 (3), Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Asterix at 10.33am.
“Stewards will continue their inquiries into the circumstances with Mr Waller later today.”
Asterix was one of the outsiders of the field, rated a $51 chance, and was to be ridden by Jye McNeil — a former winner of the race on Twilight Payment in 2020.
JOCKEY’S REMARKABLE RECOVERY (via Paul Barbieri, Punters.com.au)
Harry Coffey was sensationally cleared to ride Shockletz in just over 48 hours after suffering a collarbone fracture in a race fall.
Coffey was injured on Saturday when Pondalowie fell during the Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington, with the Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained horse fortunately not being injured whatsoever.
Coffey was able to walk back to the jockeys room by himself after the incident, but was immediately taken to hospital for scans on his injury as questions were raised as to who’d replace him in the Melbourne Cup.
Harry Coffey returns to the mounting yard after falling off Pondalowie in Race Eight, the TAB Empire Rose Stakes during Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse on October 31, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Shockletz trainer Ciaron Maher, though, didn’t find a replacement and simply said at the time he’d give Coffey – the horse’s regular jockey – the chance to prove his fitness.
And, that’s what’s come to pass with 31-year-old Coffey having surgery on Sunday to stabilise the fracture and get himself ready for the ride.
On Monday afternoon, the jockey received medical clearances from orthopaedic surgeon Dr Andrew Oppy and Racing Victoria chief medical officer Dr Ben Barresi to ride on Tuesday.
Coffey spoke to Channel 9’s Tony Jones to explain how he was able to be fit enough to fulfill his Cup day engagements.
“I don’t know if I’m the miracle man. The team who worked on me are,” Coffey said.
“I had the surgery on Sunday morning. I recovered well… They said if I have confidence in it, it’ll hold up.
“I’ll uphold all my riding engagements today which we decided was the best way forward.”
Maher said Shockletz owner-breeder Laurence Eales gave Coffey every chance to prove he was right to go.
“It’s fantastic and great for Laurence to do it, he’s normally pretty correct, Harry,” Maher told News Corp.
“I’ve broken plenty of collarbones before and ridden, so I knew it was possible.
“We were certainly going to give him every opportunity to do it, he says he’s good, been into Racing Victoria and got the clearance.
“Harry is a very straight-up fella, I didn’t ring him (Sunday), I rang him this morning and he said you didn’t ring me yesterday,” Maher continued with a laugh.
“He knows the horse very well, he’s fit as a flea and structurally he won’t break.
“I’m sure there will be a little bit of discomfort, but the adrenaline will kick in.
“She’s weighted to win the race, she’s got good soft track form and weight comes into it more when the track is affected by rain.”
MELBOURNE CUP FIELD: Which 24 horses made final cut
BARRIER DRAW: Full results and who fared best — and worst
MELBOURNE CUP ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know
ORDER OF ENTRY: Latest in the race for Cup spots
DUMMIES’ GUIDE: Melbourne Cup for beginners
WEATHER: Why wet weather could cause havoc as Cup day forecast revealed
FLEMINGTON RACE CARD & RESULTS (all times AEDT)
10:45am Race 1 Darley Maribyrnong Plate 1000m Group 3
1st 6. Amelia’s Affair ($8.00, $2.40), 2nd 1. Royal Press ($1.40) 3rd 8. La La Lilly ($2.20), 4th 7. Funded
11:20am Race 2 Pin & Win Community Handicap 2000m Benchmark 80
1st 13. Yauson ($3.60, $1.57), 2nd 12. Mr. O’Reilly ($4.20) 3rd 1. Military Academy ($11.75), 4th 6. Shaiyhar/14. Ichnusa
12:00pm Race 3 TAB One Pool Trophy 1800m Listed
1st 10. Billycart ($11, $2.75), 2nd 1. Mister Whiskers ($2.20), 3rd 2. Star of Macedon ($1.40), 4th 9. Tanabata
12:40pm Race 4 The Schweppervescence Plate 1000m Feature Handicap
1st 4. Peyton ($5.00, $2.00), 2nd 13. Fovea ($3.90), 3rd 7. Strike Package ($6.00), 4th 8. Gin Twist)
1:20pm Race 5 Australian Heritage Cup 2800m Benchmark 96
1st 16. Beach Pad ($12, $3.80), 2nd 3. Highland Bling ($8.00), 3rd 10. After Summer ($7), 4th 9. Autumn Mystery
1:55pm Race 6 Asahi Super Dry Plate 1800m Listed
3:00pm Race 7 Lexus Melbourne Cup 3200m Group 1
3:50pm Race 8 Crown Amanda Elliott 1400m Listed
4:35pm Race 9 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes 1400m Group 3
5:15pm Race 10 Channel 9 Trophy 1400m Handicap