Lexus Melbourne Cup (Group 1)

WITH a race-record seven runners in the A$10.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup, Ciaron Maher’s stable put on a staying masterclass at Flemington to land a historic first-ever trifecta in the 166th edition of the 3,200-metre handicap.

Filling six of the top-10 placings, the stable, with six separate facilities spread across Victoria and New South Wales, saluted with the British-bred Frankel colt Point Of Law, bred by King Charles III. Maher had seen Point Of Law run fourth at Royal Ascot in the Queen’s Vase in June when trained by John and Thady Gosden, after which the pursuit began.

A winner of the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket, Point Of Law changed hands for a figure believed to be around $4 million, after which his next start was his win in the Geelong Cup. He came into Tuesday’s race as the least experienced runner (five starts), yet started a $7 favourite when the gates flew at 3pm.

With Ethan Brown up, Point Of Law jumped from barrier five in the 23-horse field and found a position one off the fence just beyond midfield. Along the riverside, his stablemate Royal Supremacy took up the running with Kizlyar leading the chasing bunch in what became a widening gap.

By the time the field neared Chiquita Lodge, where once the Flemington steeplechase treble stood, Royal Supremacy was out clear by 20 lengths. Kizlyar continued the ‘donkey work’ of bringing the leader back and, by the point of the turn, the chasing bunch began to compress yet Royal Supremacy still held a 10-length advantage on straightening.

Closing fast

With urgency becoming paramount, many sought wide runs. This proved an advantage for Ethan Brown, who guided Point Of Law through a series of gaps, never having to get more than three-wide off the fence as the pair were closing fast on both Royal Supremacy and the lead with 200 metres remaining.

Passing the clocktower, still adorned with a Robbie Williams pre-race entertainment banner, Point Of Law perfectly illustrated how Cup winners need that bit of extra class in this era, as the Frankel colt accelerated away to an impressive four-length win.

A pair of Irish-bred horses, stablemates of the winner, filled second and third with the former Johnny Murtagh-trained Zahrann (by Night Of Thunder) just catching the former Richard O’Brien-trained (Juja Kibo by Belardo).

Joseph O’Brien’s best performer was Son And Lovers who claimed fourth, just ahead of a pair of Ciaron Maher-trained horses, the Irish-bred Royal Supremacy and Shockletz, the daughter of the 2009 Cup winner Shocking.

Of the others, the three-year-old James J Braddock, drawn in 23, ran with credit under Craig A Williams, running on late to get seventh.

Trustyourinstinct (11th) under James McDonald was slowly away and never figured although running on late, while the J.P. McManus bets from the Call of the Card also went astray on George Boughey’s Hopewell Rock in ninth. Last year’s second, Goodie Two Shoes was only 22nd this time, just ahead of Vauban who finished last. Both James J Braddock and fellow O’Brien--trained Omni Man will stay in Australia to be trained by Chris Waller.

“Don’t wake me up,” implored Ethan Brown. “I’m lost for words. I mean, where do you start? This is the race that we all try and win. To be in a position at such a young age (Brown is 27) to do so, I mean, it’s just indescribable.

“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. I looked up and Royal Supremacy was about 20 in front and I thought, ‘Oh God’.

“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.”

‘It’s been a whirlwind’ - Maher

THE win, in front of 97,000 spectators, the largest since 2016, was Ciaron Maher’s second Melbourne Cup having won the 2022 edition with Gold Trip, when in partnership with David Eustace.

“I knew I had my best hand going into it,” said Ciaron Maher.

“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.

“God, he’s a special horse. Point Of Law has just thrived and I can’t thank all the team and the owners enough.

“What a ride they’ve been on. It’s been a whirlwind really. To get three horses in the first three, I’m just very proud, I’ve got my mum (Eileen) and dad (John) here too.”

Maher will now sit down with the ownership group, who will potentially look at Royal Ascot next year.

“The world’s his oyster really,” added Maher. “I think he’s world class. If he keeps developing, if you see the shape of him, the frame of him, he’s still got a lot of developing to do.

“It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if he raced in the best races in the world.

“You wouldn’t rule out going back to England or Dubai, there’s some nice races there. It should be quite fun, but we’re mindful he’s still quite raw and we want to let him furnish as well.”

Melbourne rocks

THE Cup had the biggest attendance, on what turned out to be a sunny afternoon, since 2016 with almost 100,000 on track. The 97,112 present were entertained by a Robbie Williams performance before the build up to the race in the parade ring and a full concert on stage afterwards.

POINT Of Law is a symbol of modern international breeding, royal by birth in equine terms, as well as his first owner. A son of British champion Frankel, he is out of a Japanese-bred mare Portfolio, who raced in Queen Elizabeth’s colours to win twice and who was sired by Japan’s champion Deep Impact. Portfolio’s dam Diploma was by Dubawi, so it’s a proper quality pedigree.