King's former horse Point Of Law wins Melbourne Cup
The horse had been seen as a St Leger hope after finishing fourth in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. It also won Newmarket’s Bahrain Trophy for former…
Point Of Law, previously owned by the King and Queen, secured a decisive victory in the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday. The son of Frankel ran out winner in a race dominated by trainer Ciaron Maher, who guided three of his runners into the top three positions. This triumph marks a significant achievement for the horse, which had been bought privately to continue its career in Australia after a promising start in Europe.
The horse had been seen as a St Leger hope after finishing fourth in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. It also won Newmarket’s Bahrain Trophy for former trainers John and Thady Gosden before moving to the southern hemisphere. On its first outing for new connections, Point Of Law won the Geelong Cup, setting the stage for its major race debut.
Trainer Ciaron Maher continued his outstanding recent record in major races with this commanding performance. With stablemate Royal Supremacy setting a strong pace, Point Of Law showed a deadly turn of foot to run down the eventual fifth. Maher trained not only the first three home but also the fifth and sixth finishers in the ‘race that stops the nation’.
Maher told Australia’s Channel Nine: “I knew I had my best hand going into it, but it’s got to execute. I certainly didn’t know Royal Supremacy was going to lead by that far but there’s nothing better than a true staying test. He added: “Point Of Law has just thrived and I can’t thank all the team and the owners enough.
What a ride they’ve been on. It’s been a whirlwind really, but I’m very proud of all the team.
Point Of Law was ridden by Ethan Brown, who was enjoying his finest hour in the saddle at the venue where his career was almost ended in a near-fatal fall in 2023. Persuaded back to riding by Maher, Brown’s precision ride on the 6-1 favourite was the perfect way to repay the trainer. The jockey expressed his gratitude and emotion following the historic win.
Brown said: “Please don’t wake me up. It’s an amazing feeling. He reflected on his relationship with the trainer, stating: “It’s been well documented how Ciaron talked me out of horse training at one stage when I was about 22 years old, but he’s done nothing but support me and back me.
The jockey detailed the challenging conditions during the race, noting the significant gap created by the leader. He explained: “I thought Point Of Law had the best turn of foot in the race by far. He was shuffled back a bit further than I would’ve liked and I was trying to get him settled, and I looked up and saw Royal Supremacy about 20 in front and thought, ‘Oh God’.
Despite the daunting position, Brown remained composed and executed a masterful finish. He continued: “I had to stay cool, stay patient, cut the bend and once he got that clear run in, his turn of foot was enormous. He’s going to be a superstar horse, he’s something special.
The raiding European party was dominated by Joseph O’Brien’s five-strong team, but there was to be no third win in the race for the Irishman. Sons And Lovers achieved the best position for the group, temporarily halting the Maher procession in fourth place. This result highlighted the strength of the Australian-trained contingent in the feature event.
Derby third James J Braddock was the next best of the O’Brien contingent, finishing in seventh position. George Boughey’s Ebor runner-up Hopewell Rock, heavily backed by JP McManus prior to the race, finished only ninth. The outcome underscored the difficulty of winning the Melbourne Cup against top local form.
Maher, who had previously won the Flemington feature alongside David Eustace with Gold Trip in 2022, added another major trophy to his collection. He fielded seven runners in total for the race, showcasing the depth of his stable. His ability to place multiple horses in the top six demonstrated exceptional preparation and tactical planning.
The trainer expressed pride in his team’s collective effort, noting the whirlwind nature of the recent period. The victory for Point Of Law cements its status as a standout performer in the international racing calendar. The result will be remembered as a defining moment for both the horse and its connections.
Eli Nathan
Eli Nathan covers Wales news, politics, community stories, and sports for The National Wales (thenational.wales).
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