Point Of Law wins the Melbourne Cup as Maher trains trifecta in historic result

Point Of Law has led home a Melbourne Cup clean sweep for trainer Ciaron Maher after producing a devastating sprint to win the $10 million race.

Settling well back in the 23-horse field, Point Of Law emerged at the 100m mark before careering away to win by three-and-three-quarters lengths.

Ridden by Ethan Brown, the northern hemisphere import defeated stablemates Zahrann and Juja Kibo in a historic result.

It is the first time a trainer has provided the first three placings in the race.

Topweight Sons And Lovers was the first internationally trained horse to finish in running fourth for Joseph O’Brien.

Point Of Law was one of seven runners for Maher, who purchased the lightly raced stayer from King Charles in a mid-year deal.

Having only his sixth start, Point Of Law underlined his Flemington credentials with a Geelong Cup win at his first Australian outing.

The Cup was run at a mudling tempo despite the tearaway tactics of another Maher runner, the outsider Royal Supremacy.

Royal Supremacy established a 20-length in the middle stages and still had a commanding lead into the straight before the challengers arrived.

Point Of Law was strongest when it mattered most, sweeping to the front and never in danger of defeat, leaving Zahrann ($26) and Juja Kibo ($14) in a photo for the minor placings.

Maher-trained runners filled five of the top six placings with Royal Supremacy holding on for fifth and Shockletz finishing sixth.

“I knew I had my best hand going into it but they’ve got to execute,” Maher told the Nine Network.

“I certainly didn’t know that Royal Supremacy would lead by that far, but (there’s) nothing better than a true staying test.”

As Maher celebrated his second Melbourne Cup victory, Brown savoured his first after becoming an integral part of the trainer’s juggernaut stable.

“It’s been well documented how Ciaron talked me out of horse training at one stage when I was about 22 years old … he’s done nothing but support me and back me,” Brown said.

“I’ve buggered up plenty of times on his horses and he’s had nothing but faith … he’s believed in me and showed that by putting me on and I’m quite speechless.

Brown admitted it wasn’t the plan to have Point Of Law, the $7 favourite, in the second half of the field.

“He got shuffled back a bit further than I would have liked, but I was too busy working with him trying to get him to settle, and I looked up, and Royal Supremacy was about 20 (lengths) in front.

“I had to 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 horse; he’s something special.”