Point Of Law Wins 166th Melbourne Cup
Ciaron Maher trains the first three finishers as Point Of Law holds off Royal Supremacy at Flemington.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Equestrian
Point Of Law, a 4-year-old stallion ridden by Ethan Brown, won the 166th Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday by two lengths. Zahrann finished second and Juja Kibo third, with Ciaron Maher training the first three finishers.
Why it matters
The result gives Ciaron Maher a second Melbourne Cup following his 2022 win with Gold Trip, and is a headline result for Australian racing's biggest race. The race also drew attention to a stewards' ruling that scratched Asterix after a liniment was applied without permission.
Point Of Law accelerated over the final 300 metres to win by two lengths after Royal Supremacy led by 20 lengths around the final corner. Trainer Chris Waller was fined A$50,000 (about US$35,080) hours before the race.
The players
Ciaron Maher
A leading Australian racehorse trainer who saddled the first three finishers in the Melbourne Cup and previously trained 2022 winner Gold Trip.
Joseph O'Brien
An Irish-born trainer based in Australia who prepared five runners in the Melbourne Cup, including fourth-placed Sons and Lovers.
Chris Waller
One of Australia's most prominent racehorse trainers, who was fined A$50,000 hours before the race.
The details
Point Of Law bided his time before accelerating over the last 300 metres to overhaul Royal Supremacy on the home straight. Joseph O'Brien, who prepared five runners, saw Sons and Lovers finish fourth, while Asterix was scratched after a stablehand applied a liniment to its forelegs without stewards' permission.
Timeline
Tuesday 3 November 2026: Point Of Law wins the 166th Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Season Trajectory
Maher's second Melbourne Cup success, following Gold Trip in 2022, reinforces his position as one of the dominant trainers in the race's modern history. The result also shifts the spotlight to Australian stables' depth at the top of the Spring Carnival.
Point Of Law's win and the Asterix scratching are the two storylines most likely to shape betting and stable decisions for the rest of the Spring Carnival. Punters tracking Maher's and O'Brien's runners should note the depth shown by their stables in this year's field.
The takeaway
Maher's back-to-back top-three finish underlines how much a well-resourced stable can influence the Melbourne Cup, so reading the trainer's record is worth as much as reading the form.
Further reading
Explore more Equestrian coverage for context on racing across Australia.
