Ciaron Maher has become the first trainer in the Melbourne Cup’s 166 editions to fill the first three places, with Point of Law winning ahead of stablemates Zahrann and Juja Kibo.
Point of Law, the Geelong Cup winner and a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old, gave Maher his second Cup victory. The horse ran down fellow Maher runner Royal Supremacy in the straight to win by 3.75 lengths.
Ethan Brown, riding his first Melbourne Cup winner, paid tribute to Maher after the race. "He took me out of horse training at one stage when I was about 22 years old. But yeah, he's done nothing but support me and backed me and I buggered up plenty of times on his horses and … he's had nothing but faith," he told Channel Nine.
Maher, who had seven runners in the Cup, also had the third-placed Juja Kibo, with Royal Supremacy finishing fifth and Shockletz sixth. Only Mr Monaco struggled, finishing 17th.
"It's been a whirlwind, really, but I'm very proud of all the team," Maher told Nine. "I like to get three horses in the first three spots!"
The victory was the third for a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old after Rekindling in 2017 and Cross Counter in 2018. Point of Law was formerly owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien, chasing a third win, had five runners; Sons And Lovers finished fourth, his best.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The trifecta is a historic first in the race's 166 editions, underscoring Maher's dominance as a trainer.
- The win by a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old continues a pattern that could reshape breeding and racing strategies.
- Ethan Brown's first Cup victory after being supported through a difficult period highlights the personal stakes behind the sport.
Background
Ciaron Maher is one of Australia's leading trainers, with a stable based in Victoria. The Melbourne Cup is Australia's most famous horse race, run over 3200 metres at Flemington Racecourse. Maher's previous Cup win was in 2021 with the stayer Incentivise.
Key Perspectives
Ciaron Maher: said he was very proud of the team and that he liked to "get three horses in the first three spots".
Ethan Brown: credited Maher for supporting him through the early stages of his career, saying the trainer "had nothing but faith" in him despite his earlier mistakes.
What to Watch
- Whether Maher can maintain this level of performance in future Cups, especially as the Northern Hemisphere three-year-old trend evolves.
- The Weights and Measures report and any handicapping adjustments that may follow this dominant stable performance.
- The fate of Point of Law's racing career, now that he has won Australia's greatest race.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedMaher made Melbourne Cup history by becoming the first trainer to fill the first three places in the race’s 166 editions.Just In: “It was the first time in 166 editions of the race that the same trainer was responsible for the first three runners home in the Cup.”
- SupportedPoint of Law led Maher stablemates Zahrann and Juja Kibo home in a 1-2-3 finish.Just In: “beating Zahrann and Juja Kibo also from the Maher stable. This gave Maher the Cup trifecta.”
- SupportedPoint of Law won the Melbourne Cup for Maher’s second Cup victory.Just In: “Point of Law has given trainer Ciaron Maher his second Melbourne Cup victory.”
- SupportedPoint of Law was the Geelong Cup winner.Just In: “The Geelong Cup-winner maintained his form”
- SupportedPoint of Law was the third Northern Hemisphere three-year-old to win the Melbourne Cup, after Rekindling in 2017 and Cross Counter in 2018.Just In: “becoming the third Northern Hemisphere three-year-old to win after Rekindling in 2017 and Cross Counter in 2018.”
- SupportedPoint of Law ran down Royal Supremacy in the straight and won by 3.75 lengths.Just In: “the horse, making the sixth start of his career, ran down stablemate Royal Supremacy in the straight”
- SupportedBrown said: “He took me out of horse training at one stage when I was about 22 years old. But yeah, he's done nothing but support me and backed me and I buggered up plenty of times on his horses and … he's had nothing but faith,” and told Channel Nine.Just In: “"He took me out of horse training at one stage when I was about 22 years old. But yeah, he's done nothing but support me and backed me and I buggered up plenty of times on his horses and … he's had nothing but faith," he told Channel Nine.”
- SupportedBrown was riding his first Melbourne Cup winner.Just In: “Ethan Brown rode Point of Law, formerly owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, to victory, winning his first Melbourne Cup.”
- SupportedMaher had seven runners in the Cup.Just In: “Of his seven Cup runners, he had the trifecta”
- Partly supportedOnly Mr Monaco struggled, finishing 17th.Just In: “Only Mr Monaco struggled to run out the race, finishing 17th.”
- SupportedMaher said, “It's been a whirlwind, really, but I'm very proud of all the team,” and “I like to get three horses in the first three spots!”Just In: “"It's been a whirlwind, really, but I'm very proud of all the team," he told Nine after the race. "I like to get three horses in the first three spots!"”
- SupportedPoint of Law was formerly owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.Just In: “Ethan Brown rode Point of Law, formerly owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, to victory”