Point Of Law leads Melbourne Cup field as Maher saddles seven runners

First staged in 1861, the 3,200-metre, or two-mile, race is widely viewed as a demanding test of a horse’s stamina. The 24-runner event is a major cultural fixture in Australia, where its winner is immediately thrust into the national spotlight.

Maher won the Cup in 2022 when Mark Zahra rode Gold Trip. His seven entries this year are Point Of Law, Shockletz, Juja Kibo, Middle Earth, Mr Monaco, Zahrann and Royal Supremacy. Showers are forecast, with the track expected to be soft.

“We've had multiple runners the past few years but the amount (seven), I'm pretty proud of,” Maher told reporters. “There's a lot of excited people in our camp.

“The favourite, Point Of Law, is obviously a very talented horse, Shockletz has got a huge chance, I think at the weight.

“Middle Earth had the right preparation for it, you could keep going (through seven runners) but I think one of those three (is the best chance).”

Shockletz, Juja Kibo and Middle Earth are also among the leading contenders. Maher recently prepared sprinter Tempted for a win over Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising in The Everest in Sydney last month.

Three-year-old British colt Point Of Law will be ridden by Ethan Brown in only his sixth career outing. He has not previously raced over 3,200 metres, but drew barrier nine and strengthened his credentials by winning the Geelong Cup with Brown aboard.

The Melbourne Cup will be Point Of Law’s second Australian start. Maher bought the colt from King Charles, who bred and raced him. Earlier this year, he finished fourth at Royal Ascot over 2,800 metres and won the Bahrain Trophy over 2,600 metres at Newmarket.

O’Brien seeks a third Cup win

Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien will have five runners as he attempts to add to his previous Melbourne Cup victories with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020. His team includes Trustyourinstinct, last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes, Sons and Lovers, James J Braddock and Kizlyar.

Trustyourinstinct is the second favourite despite being allocated barrier 18. The seven-year-old gelding will be ridden by James McDonald, who won the race on Verry Elleegant in 2021.

Source: France 24

Other former Melbourne Cup-winning jockeys are also in the field. Jye McNeil, the 2020 champion, will ride the Chris Waller-trained Asterix. Zahra, victorious on Gold Trip in 2022 and Without a Fight the following year, takes the mount on Middle Earth, which finished third last year and will start from barrier one.

Knight’s Choice, the winner two years ago, has barrier two with Robbie Dolan again in the saddle.

Jamie Melham, who guided Half Yours to victory in the 2025 Cup and became only the second woman jockey to win the race, will ride outsider Future History. Her previous triumph came 10 years after Michelle Payne’s win.

Half Yours will not defend the title after suffering a nasty fall in last month’s Caulfield Cup, leaving Melham initially without a Melbourne Cup ride. Future History entered the final field after the Japanese runner Stinger Glass was withdrawn.

Several other horses were also ruled out. Leading contender Defiantly failed a veterinary inspection on Saturday, while another early favourite, Saint George, was removed after failing mandatory pre-race tests.