The Melbourne Cup – what the beaten jockeys said

Here’s what the beaten jockeys had to say on the 2026 Melbourne after Point Of Law claimed the $10 million race at Flemington.

Dylan Browne McMmonagle (Sons And Lovers): “He ran great. Got a nice spot. We steadied up a bit halfway but came home well.”

James McDonald (Trustyourinstinct): “He was solid. In a very slowly run race, he is a little bit one-dimensional, and we have to flow back. He was going to be there but we just couldn’t get into the race at all.

Robbie Dolan (Knight’s Choice): “Very proud of him. Amazing little horse. Just getting him back here for the Melbourne Cup after a long time of injuries and sicknesses is amazing. He ran a cracker with five-kilos on some of those horses. Really proud of him.

Mark Zahra (Middle Earth): “He was a bit keen in parts. He was travelling ok in the straight, but the winner was going a lot better and took my runs. He whacked away alright in the end.”

Jordan Childs (Vauban): “He had a nice run in transit. Had to use him a little from the gate. He got into a rhythm and just got really tired late. Second-up 3200 probably didn’t work.”

Ray Dawson (Enfjaar): “Happy early to the first bend. They went way too slow for us and we struggled to get into it.”

Ben Allen (Royal Supremacy): “(Leading like that) obviously wasn’t the plan. He’s very tough. I was surprised when I looked back how far off they were as I didn’t think we’d gone that sort of gallop but he was very tough. The way he ran it he ran a strong two-mile. Very game in defeat.”

Damian Lane (Wine Dark Sea): “I thought he was a little bit keen and wanted to lug out. Just can’t get it wrong in these races, unfortunately. Little bit immature mentally for these big occasions. Nice horse for the future but just needs to iron out a few quirks.”

Wayne Lordan (Goodie Two Shoes): “Got a nice position. When they quickened in the straight, he levelled out and stayed on.”

Sam Clipperton (Juja Kibo): “Couldn’t be more proud of his effort. He’s run out of his skin and for a fleeting moment there I thought we had the race won. The winner just let down really well. Really thankful to Ciaron and the owners. Pleasing result.”

Zac Lloyd (Hopewell Rock): “Bit of a non-event. They went ridiculously slow bar the leader and I was just a fraction on the bridle throughout. When they quickened they left him flat-footed, but I thought he went well up the straight.”

Declan Bates (Onesmoothoperator): “We were obviously back. We never really ran into the rafe at all so a bit disappointing.”

Tommy Berry (Soul Of Spain): “Began well. Found a nice spot early but he was just a bit too honest in the run and he felt the pinch late. Very honest in defeat.

Ben Melham (Zahrann): “Terrific. Had a good run. Felt like the winner at the top of the straight. Pretty freakish win by the winner.”

Rachel King (So You Are): “Super run. He put himself in a good spot. Very inexperienced horse at the moment and he has plenty more to come and plenty of improvement.”

Jamie Melham (Future History): “He tried hard. At the 600 (metre mark) I thought he was a sneaky hope. He just doesn’t run the trip out at this level but back to 2000/2500m is his go.”

Craig Williams (James J Braddock): “The barrier was a big disadvantage to him today, but he was prepared really well by Joseph and his team to come out here. He is only a three-year-old, lightly raced. You could feel that from the half mile. I had the winner inside of me. Had the third-placed horse in front of me and the fifth-placed horse behind me so I felt like we were in the right spot. For an unusually stop-start run race for the group, He came out and wanted to go left under pressure. He struggled to stay on the back of those main horses and lost ground. Then in the straight he balanced up and closed off really well. He’s a horse with exceptional talent but he just didn’t get it quite right from the barrier today.”

Beau Mertens (Kizlyar): “I thought he did a good job. We had to do the tow-up work behind the tearaway leader, but I was trying to build on him, and I thought he stayed on strong, racing wide.”

Dean Yendall (Strictly Business): “Couldn’t really switch her off. Probably needed a parking inspector out there to throw a few tickets out. Just went too steady. She never relaxed and the job was done probably at the 1000 (metre mark) when she was on the bridle and had the winner’s back but didn’t come on.”

Jabez Johnstone (Mr Monaco): “Wouldn’t be disappointed with that at all. He’s run a nice race. Strongly believe didn’t run two miles.”

William Pike (Zakouma): “It was a good sound effort. They just didn’t go any gallop. It was a very steady run race.”

Harry Coffey (Shockletz): “She was super. Brave. It was a bit of a stop-start event for the first bit. It was a sprint home which probably didn’t suit her. But she was brave and did a good job.”