King's former horse Point Of Law wins Melbourne Cup

Point Of Law, previously owned by the King and Queen, ran out a decisive winner of a Ciaron Maher dominated Lexus Melbourne Cup in Flemington.Seen as a St Leger hope after finishing fourth in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and winning Newmarket's Bahrain Trophy for former trainers John and Thady Gosden, he was bought privately to continue his career in Australia, winning the Geelong Cup on his first outing for new connections. With stablemate Royal Supremacy setting a strong pace for the big-race favourite to aim at, the son of Frankel showed a deadly turn of foot to run down the eventual fifth as Maher trained not only the first three home but also the fifth and sixth in the 'race that stops the nation'. Maher told Australia's Channel Nine: "I knew I had my best hand going into it, but it's got to execute. I certainly didn't know Royal Supremacy was going to lead by that far but there's nothing better than a true staying test."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, but I'm very proud of all the team." Maher, who had previously won the Flemington feature alongside David Eustace with Gold Trip in 2022, also saddled Zahrann to finish the best part of four lengths behind his stablemate in second, with his Juja Kibo claiming the final spot on the podium. The trainer, who fielded seven runners in total, added: "To get three horses in the first three spots, I'm very proud. It's been a whirlwind really."Point Of Law was ridden by Ethan Brown who was enjoying his finest hour in the saddle at the venue his career was almost ended in a near-fatal fall in 2023. Persuaded back to riding by Maher, his precision ride on the 6-1 favourite was the perfect way to repay the trainer, with the jockey saying: "Please don't wake me up. It's an amazing feeling."It's been well documented how Ciaron talked me out of horse training at one stage when I was about 22 years old, but he's done nothing but support me and back me."I've messed up plenty of times on his horses and he's had nothing but faith. He's believed in me and shown that by putting me on. I'm quite speechless."I thought Point Of Law had the best turn of foot in the race by far. He was shuffled back a bit further than I would've liked and I was trying to get him settled, and I looked up and saw Royal Supremacy about 20 in front and thought, 'Oh God'."I had to stay cool, stay patient, cut the bend and once he got that clear run in, his turn of foot was enormous. He's going to be a superstar horse, he's something special."The raiding European party was dominated by Joseph O'Brien's five-strong team, but there was to be no third win in the race for the Irishman with Sons And Lovers achieving the best position, temporarily halting the Maher procession in fourth.Derby third James J Braddock was next best of the O'Brien contingent in seventh, with George Boughey's Ebor runner-up Hopewell Rock, heavily backed by none other than JP McManus prior to the race, only ninth.