Brief
Point of Law wins Geelong Cup, securing Melbourne Cup berth
The former royal horse claimed victory in its Australian debut, putting it into the Melbourne Cup field.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Point of Law, the four‑year‑old horse formerly owned by King Charles III, won the Geelong Cup on 21 October 2026, securing a place in the Melbourne Cup, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
What happened
The horse, on its first Australian start and fifth race overall, settled at the pace before accelerating on the straight under jockey Ethan Brown. It held off Joseph O’Brien‑trained Small Fry, which finished second, and Danny O’Brien’s Omniman, which placed third. The win came over 2600 metres, the same distance as the Group 3 race it won in the UK in July.
What the reports add
The article notes trainer Ciaron Maher’s background, highlighting that the Geelong Cup victory follows his earlier success with Gilded Water, which was runner‑up last year. Maher also recalled that his mother, Eileen, helped persuade the royal family to sell the horse after a meeting at Royal Ascot.
What was said
Maher said, “She certainly would have helped [seal the deal],” and added, “It’s great to win it with such a progressive horse. He is very lightly raced… hopefully he pulls up well because he looks like he’ll run two miles.” Brown said, “I just needed to work with him, rather than try to bang him into a spot early. He’s a racehorse and he wanted to win.”
How it came about
Point of Law was bought by Maher earlier in the year with the aim of contesting the Melbourne Cup for prominent clients. The horse had previously won a Group 3 race in the UK and was lightly raced before its Australian debut.
Key facts
- Point of Law won the Geelong Cup on 21 October 2026. (smh.com.au)
- The victory secures the horse a place in the Melbourne Cup. (smh.com.au)
- Jockey Ethan Brown rode Point of Law to victory. (smh.com.au)
- Trainer Ciaran Maher purchased the horse earlier in the year. (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “Point of Law, formerly owned by King Charles III, bound for Melbourne Cup after winning Geelong Cup for trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Ethan Brown”
