Point of Law and jubilant jockey Ethan Brown spearheaded a history making day for trainer Ciaron Maher when he romped to a Melbourne Cup victory from stablemates Zahrann and Juja Kibo, making the Victorian handler the first man in the 166 year history of Australia’s greatest race to saddle the trifecta.
And for good measure Maher runners also filled fifth and sixth positions, giving Maher an almost unprecedented sweep of the Flemington classic.
Not even the Cups King Bart Cummings – who trained 12 winners of the race as well as five quinellas – sustained such dominance in a single running of the contest.
Still, it must be said that Maher’s seven runners gave him almost one third of the field of 23 ensuring that at least some were likely to be involved at the business end of the 3200 metre stamina test.
This was a win that could be said to have come by Royal Appointment, as connections bought Point of Law, the heavily backed favourite, from breeder King Charles III out of the Newmarket stable of John Gosden after he had run well at Royal Ascot and then won a group 3 contest at Newmarket’s July meeting earlier this year.
While many believed Point of Law was a handicap good thing after his Australian debut victory in the Geelong Cup there were also many who thought that his immaturity – this was only his sixth start – and concerns over his temperament might count against him in a fevered Flemington atmosphere on a warm afternoon such as this.
But any concerns were allayed by his pre race demeanour and well being – Maher said he had been in fantastic condition in the stalls before even being paraded – and the way he settled in the run before exploding in the closing stages to run down pace setting stablemate Royal Supremacy.
The latter’s bold front running tactics under jockey Ben Allen almost stole the race as he galloped to a lead of at least 15 lengths at one point of the race. Turning for home Allen kicked on again but his stamina began to ebb and the gallant Royal Supremacy’s stride began to shorten in the final stages as the leading pursuers closed in.
He would ultimately finish fifth, as Sons and Lovers, the top weight and best performed of Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien’s contenders, responded to Dylan Browne McMonagle’s urgings to just grab fourth place. Maher’s Shockletz, the mare at the bottom of the weights, ran on to finish sixth. Middle Earth and Mr Monaco were the only two Maher gallopers to finish further back.
How far can the winner go? Well with the incomparable Frankel as his sire and the Japanese superstar Deep Impact as his maternal grand sire the lightly raced four year old – whom, his trainer pointed out, is still a three year old to Northern Hemisphere time – is bred to be competitive at the highest weight for age levels.
Sure, he was winning the Cup with a relatively light weight – he carried saddlecloth 20 and 53 kilograms – but the manner of his victory and the clear upside he possesses has Maher dreaming of a globetrotting future for the still entire horse.
“I think the world’s his oyster really. He’s obviously very talented. He’s won that very well and he’s a European three year old still. I think he’s got a bright future, a big engine and should be a lot of fun,” he said, pointing out that all the top international races should be well within his compass.
“I knew I had my best hand going in to it. We just had to execute. I certainly didn’t know that Royal Supremacy would go and lead by that far but nothing better than a true staying test.”
“Point Of Law has just thrived (since arriving in Australia). I can’t thank all the team enough all the owners – what a ride they have been on. It’s been a whirlwind really.”
“I’m very proud of all the team. Just my team, they’re amazing. That horse has really come on from Geelong. I was very confident. It’s pretty special.”
For Brown, who has had to rebuild his career after an horrific injury in early 2023 when he came close to losing his life after a racefall, this was the sweetest moment of all.
But for the encouragement of Maher he may not haveridden again, having told the trainer that he was considering giving up as a jockey to become a trainer, and the winning rider was quick to acknowledge the support Maher had given him as he looked to rebuild his life following that nightmare injury.
“I’ll just start with Ciaron. It’s been well documented how he talked me out of horse training at one stage. I was about 22 years old but he’s done nothing but support me and back me in. I’ve buggered up plenty of times on his horses and he has had nothing but faith. He’s believed in me and shown that by putting me on. I’m quite speechless,” said Brown.
“He’s nothing but good to me. He’s supported me from when I came back and even before that. I’ve buggered up plenty of times for him and he just keeps fronting up and putting me on and it just shows he’s sort of, how do I explain it, he wants to help me I guess and to be able to win a Melbourne Cup for him, I’ve got to pinch myself, I’m still lost for words
“Don’t wake me up.This is the race that we all try and win. To be in a position at such a young age to do so, I mean, it’s just indescribable.”
He went into the Cup confident that Point of Law would be hard to beat.
“Looking at the race I thought he has got the best turn of foot in the race by far. I got shuffled back a bit further than I would have liked but I was busy working with him and getting him to settle and I looked up and Royal Supremacy was about 20 in front and I thought oh God. So I had to just stay cool, stay patient, cut the bend and once he got that clear running his turn of foot was enormous. He is going to be a superstar this. He’s something special.
“When he quickened down at the 350, I thought the race was over then. I know Royal Supremacy was still a fair way in front but there’s not many horses that can quicken like that off the back of the 3200 metres”.
Brown is the first jockey from the Northern Territory to win Australia’s greatest race, and he acknowledged his Alice Springs heritage in the afterglow of his historic triumph as he recollected his beginnings in the great game.
”I thought I would come to Melbourne and try and ride a few winners. I have had great support throughout my career. It’s been a bumpy road, had a lot of challenges thrown my way, I’m obviously not the only one but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and it’s days like this that make it all worth it,
“At one stage, I didn’t think I was going to come back, I didn’t think it would be worth it. But I had a slow burn and woke up one morning and thought I needed to get back riding. It’s all led to this moment now, I’ve just got to pinch myself.”