Point Of Law storms to victory as Ciaron Maher creates Melbourne Cup history at Flemington.
The 2026 Melbourne Cup will be remembered not only for a spectacular victory by Point Of Law, but for one of the most extraordinary training performances in the 166-year history of Australia’s greatest horse race.
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher achieved something no trainer had managed before, preparing the first three horses across the finishing line in the race that stops a nation.
And he didn’t stop there.
In an astonishing display of stable dominance, Maher trained five of the first six finishers, with Point Of Law leading home Zahrann and Juja Kibo, while Royal Supremacy and Shockletz finished fifth and sixth respectively.
It was a remarkable result from a trainer who saddled seven runners in the $10.2 million contest.
A Melbourne Cup thriller
For much of the 3,200-metre journey, outsider Royal Supremacy threatened to produce one of the biggest upsets in Cup history, opening an enormous lead over the chasing field.
But as the runners turned for home, jockey Ethan Brown produced a perfectly timed ride aboard Point Of Law.
The four-year-old stormed past the tiring leader and powered clear to claim Australia’s most famous racing prize.
For Maher, it was his second Melbourne Cup triumph, having previously shared the honours with Gold Trip in 2022.
A fairytale for Ethan Brown
The victory also completed an emotional comeback for jockey Ethan Brown.
Just three years earlier, Brown suffered life-threatening injuries in a horrific fall at Flemington, leaving his racing future uncertain.
Now, at just 27 years of age, he has achieved the ultimate dream for an Australian jockey.
The top eight finishers
- Point Of Law – Ciaron Maher
- Zahrann – Ciaron Maher
- Juja Kibo – Ciaron Maher
- Sons And Lovers – Joseph O’Brien
- Royal Supremacy – Ciaron Maher
- Shockletz – Ciaron Maher
- James J Braddock – Joseph O’Brien
- So You Are – Bjorn Baker
With five of the top eight runners, including a historic clean sweep of the placings, Maher’s achievement was nothing short of extraordinary.
The 2026 Melbourne Cup belonged to Point Of Law, Ethan Brown and, perhaps more than anyone else, Ciaron Maher.
One race. One historic trifecta. Five of the first six. A Melbourne Cup performance for the ages.