Point Of Law wins Melbourne Cup at Flemington

Point Of Law finished first in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday at Flemington, securing a victory that paid out A$10 million in prize money.

The horse, trained by Ciaron Maher, closed a large gap to take the lead in the final stretch. Royal Supremacy had led the field by approximately 20 lengths before being overtaken in the straight. Jockey Ethan Brown rode Point Of Law to the finish line, claiming the race's top payout of A$12.4 million in New Zealand currency.

Maher, who previously won the race in 2022 with Gold Trip, achieved a perfect sweep of the top three finishers. Zahrann finished second and Juja Kibo took third place. Maher entered the race with a record seven horses in the field. He described the victory as a result of having the best possible chance and executing the plan.

The Maher team purchased Point Of Law from the royal stable after the horse won the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July. Point Of Law has won two of his four starts. His previous victory in the Geelong Cup established him as a strong contender for the Melbourne Cup.

Jockey Ethan Brown, who survived a serious fall in a race three years ago, credited Maher for his continued support. Brown noted that he has made errors in the past, but Maher maintained confidence in his ability to ride. Brown expressed pride in the team's performance and the horse's resilience.

Drama occurred before the start when stewards fined leading trainer Chris Waller A$50,000. The penalty was imposed because Waller's runner, Asterix, was mistakenly given medication in the stable just hours before the race. Asterix, who is part-owned by former cricketer Mark Greatbatch, was scratched from the race. This decision left 2020 Melbourne Cup winner Jye McNeil without a mount for this year's event.