Point Of Law wins 2026 Melbourne Cup as Maher sweeps placings
Ethan Brown rode the favourite past Royal Supremacy at Flemington, securing Melbourne Cup victory for a former royal horse as trainer Ciaron Maher filled the first three places.
By Hushread Stories, from 8 outlets · First published 3 Nov 2026
In brief
- Point Of Law won the 2026 Melbourne Cup after chasing down Royal Supremacy at Flemington.
- Ethan Brown rode the favourite to victory in the race carrying Aus$10 million in prize money.
- Winning trainer Ciaron Maher dominated the result, with his horses filling all three leading places.
- Point Of Law was previously owned by King Charles, with coverage also identifying the Queen as an owner.
- Sons and Lovers finished fourth, recording the best result among the runners trained by Joseph O'Brien.
Timeline · 4 moments
Ciaron Maher fills all three leading places
Sky Sports ↗Ethan Brown salutes after Melbourne Cup victory
Guardian Sport ↗Brown rides Point Of Law past Royal Supremacy
World News CNA ↗Point Of Law starts as short-priced Cup favourite
AFP ↗How it started
Point Of Law arrived at the 2026 Melbourne Cup as the short-priced favourite. The race carried Aus$10 million in prize money, according to AFP.
The horse also brought a royal connection. BBC News identified Point Of Law as King Charles's former horse, while Sky Sports reported that it had previously been owned by the King and Queen.
How it unfolded
At Flemington on 3 November, Ethan Brown rode Point Of Law to victory in the Melbourne Cup. Sydney Morning Herald published a full replay of the winning performance.
The decisive move came as Point Of Law chased down Royal Supremacy. Guardian Sport reported that the favourite stormed home, with Brown saluting after the victory.
The result extended beyond the winner for trainer Ciaron Maher. His horses filled the first three places, according to Guardian Sport, completing a sweep of the leading positions.
Behind them, Sons and Lovers finished fourth. The42 reported that it was the best finish among Joseph O'Brien's runners.
Where it stands
Point Of Law is the 2026 Melbourne Cup winner, with Royal Supremacy finishing behind it. Sky Sports described the victory as decisive in a race dominated by Maher.
The result brings together three central strands: Brown's winning ride, the favourite delivering, and Maher's sweep of the first three places. The supplied coverage does not give the winning margin or identify the third-placed horse.
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