Point Of Law Wins 166th Melbourne Cup, Giving Trainer Ciaron Maher the Top Three Places

Point Of Law won the 166th running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Victoria on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The four-year-old stallion, trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Ethan Brown, ran down surprise leader Royal Supremacy on the home straight to win by two lengths.

Royal Supremacy, also from Maher’s stable, had opened a lead of about 20 lengths after the first 2,900 metres. Point Of Law bided its time, accelerated off the final corner and sprinted clear in the final 100 metres. The victory came on the horse’s sixth career start. Brown, bringing home the 6-1 second favourite, said from the saddle that he had looked up to see Royal Supremacy 20 lengths clear and told himself to stay cool and patient. Once the horse found clear running, its turn of foot was enormous.

Zahrann finished second and Juja Kibo third, both trained by Maher. The result gave Maher a sweep of the top three places. He had seven horses in the race and had previously co-trained the 2022 winner Gold Trip. Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien prepared five runners and finished fourth with Sons and Lovers.

Point Of Law had been owned by King Charles until earlier this year, when it was sold to an Australian syndicate that includes former AFL player Chris Judd and his wife Bec. The horse had won the Geelong Cup the previous month and moved to the top of the betting. Brown called it a superstar horse in the best of hands with Maher.

The Melbourne Cup, first run in 1861 and often called the race that stops a nation, carried a prize of A$10.2 million, approximately $7.16 million. It is Australia’s third-richest race and is regarded as the most prestigious. Brown, who nearly died in a fall three years earlier, described the win as every jockey’s dream.

The race was run under clear conditions at Flemington. Point Of Law’s late surge closed the gap created by the rank outsider Royal Supremacy and produced a two-length margin at the line. Maher’s dominance of the first three places set a record for a single trainer in the Cup.