Point of Law, formerly owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, won the 2026 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, giving jockey Ethan Brown his first victory in Australia’s most celebrated horse race.
The favourite produced a decisive late run at Flemington to win the A$10 million, 3,200-metre handicap, heading home Zahrann and Juja Kibo in a remarkable clean sweep for trainer Ciaron Maher.
The victory came on only Point of Law’s sixth career start, extending an impressive Australian campaign that had already included success in the Geelong Cup. ABC News
Melbourne Cup 2026 results: top five finishers
Maher trained the first three horses home and also prepared Royal Supremacy, whose bold front-running performance shaped the race.
| Position | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Point of Law | Ethan Brown | Ciaron Maher |
| 2 | Zahrann | Ben Melham | Ciaron Maher |
| 3 | Juja Kibo | Sam Clipperton | Ciaron Maher |
| 4 | Sons And Lovers | Dylan Browne McMonagle | Joseph O’Brien |
| 5 | Royal Supremacy | Ben Allen | Ciaron Maher |
The race had 23 starters following the withdrawal of Asterix before the event. abc.net.au
Point of Law catches runaway leader Royal Supremacy
Royal Supremacy established a commanding advantage on the rain-softened track, turning the Cup into a demanding test of stamina.
The leader was around eight lengths clear by the 1,500-metre mark and reportedly stretched that advantage to approximately 20 lengths with 1,000 metres remaining.
For the chasing runners, the challenge was judging when to close the gap without exhausting their own reserves.
Brown remained patient aboard Point of Law as Royal Supremacy began to tire. Once clear running opened in the straight, the favourite accelerated and swept past the leader with about 150 metres to go.
Zahrann and Juja Kibo followed him home, while Royal Supremacy eventually finished fifth.
Brown credited his horse’s finishing speed and his own decision to remain composed rather than respond too early to the breakaway.
Ethan Brown celebrates first Melbourne Cup victory
The result marked a major milestone for Brown, who thanked Maher for supporting him through setbacks in his career.
“Don’t wake me up. Amazing feeling,” Brown said after the race.
He described the trainer’s continued confidence as an important part of his journey, acknowledging that the partnership had endured mistakes and difficult periods.
At Flemington, that trust produced the biggest result of their association. Brown judged the pursuit of Royal Supremacy effectively and delivered Point of Law with enough energy to finish strongly over a distance the horse had never previously attempted.
From the royal stable to Flemington success
Point of Law arrived in Australia with promising British form but limited racing experience.
Earlier in the year, he finished fourth at Royal Ascot over 2,800 metres and won the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. Maher subsequently purchased him from the royal ownership.
His Australian debut brought victory in the Geelong Cup with Brown aboard, establishing him as a leading Melbourne Cup contender.
The Flemington assignment presented a new challenge: stepping up to 3,200 metres in a large field against experienced stayers.
Point of Law answered that question emphatically. His late acceleration carried him past an established breakaway leader and secured the Cup on just his sixth appearance.
Ciaron Maher trains the first three home
Maher entered seven runners in the race and emerged with an exceptional result: first, second and third.
Point of Law’s victory gave the trainer his second Melbourne Cup success, following Gold Trip’s win with jockey Mark Zahra in 2022.
Maher praised the work of his stable team after the race and expressed pride in filling all three leading positions.
The result demonstrated both the depth of his Cup team and the effectiveness of Point of Law’s preparation. The winner progressed from a successful Australian debut at Geelong to victory in the country’s premier staying handicap.
Asterix withdrawn before the race
The Cup build-up included a late setback for trainer Chris Waller when stewards scratched Asterix following the administration of a prohibited race-day treatment.
The withdrawal left jockey Jye McNeil, who won the Cup in 2020, without a ride in this year’s event. Waller acknowledged the mistake and was fined.
The remaining 23 runners contested a race ultimately dominated by Maher’s stable, with Point of Law delivering the decisive performance.
A new chapter for the former royal-owned horse
The Melbourne Cup has been staged since 1861, but Point of Law arrived at Flemington with only a handful of starts behind him.
His victory combined a royal connection, a first Cup win for Brown and a top-three sweep for Maher. More immediately, it confirmed that his Geelong performance could translate to the greater stamina demands of the Melbourne Cup.
After overcoming his first 3,200-metre test, Point of Law leaves Flemington as the 2026 champion and one of the most closely watched horses in Australian staying racing.
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