Point Of Law has surged into Melbourne Cup favouritism after winning the Geelong Cup, with trainer Ciaron Maher assembling seven runners for Tuesday’s race that stops the nation.
Maher, who won the Melbourne Cup with Gold Trip in 2022, is seeking a second victory in the race. His leading rival appears to be Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien, who has five horses among the 24 runners.
The field is headed by Joseph O’Brien’s Sons And Lovers, who will carry 57.5kg and be ridden by Ryan Moore. The six-year-old gelding is a dual Group Two winner but faces the demanding task of making his Australian debut in the Cup.
Trustyourinstinct, another O’Brien-trained runner, carries 57kg with James McDonald aboard. Owned by Irish billionaire JP McManus, the seven-year-old is a Group Two winner and finished fourth in the Irish St Leger at his latest start. He is considered a serious top-five contender.
Melbourne Cup contenders led by Maher’s strong team
Middle Earth is Maher’s highest-weighted runner, carrying 56.5kg with Mark Zahra in the saddle. He finished eighth in the Cox Plate over 2040m but was making ground late, and his preparation has followed the traditional staying route favoured by the late Bart Cummings. He is regarded as a winning chance.
Knight’s Choice, trained by John Symons and Sheila Laxon, carries the same weight and will be ridden by Robbie Dolan. The shock 2024 winner was unable to defend his title last year after strangles was detected at Macedon Lodge. His run in the Herbert Power was strong, although his 14th place in the Caulfield Cup leaves his prospects looking limited.
Vauban, now trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, is preparing for his fourth Melbourne Cup. The nine-year-old finished sixth last year after contesting his first two Cups for Willie Mullins, but was only ninth in the Geelong Cup and does not appear to be in the same form.
Royal Supremacy is another of Maher’s seven runners. The six-year-old was 15th in the Caulfield Cup after taking up a forward position before fading, having shown better form earlier in the campaign. He is viewed as an outside chance of finishing in the top 10.
Enfjaar was the best of the international runners in the Caulfield Cup, finishing third behind the winner. Trained by Roger Varian and ridden by Ray Dawson, the seven-year-old carries 56kg and is considered a top-10 prospect.
Wine Dark Sea, trained by Harry Charlton, was heavily promoted before the Caulfield Cup but finished 11th. The five-year-old was bought by Australian Bloodstock, which has previously won the Melbourne Cup with Protectionist and Gold Trip, but will need a major improvement.
Goodie Two Shoes, an eight-year-old mare trained by O’Brien, surprised by finishing second in last year’s Melbourne Cup. She was only 10th in the Kilternan Stakes at her latest start, although that run may have been intended to prepare her for the Cup. She carries 55kg and is considered capable of another top-10 finish.
Juja Kibo arrives in particularly strong form for Maher, having won his past two races. His latest success came in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup over 2500m, after an earlier victory in the Metropolitan at Randwick. He missed the Caulfield Cup but was widely considered good enough to have competed, and remains a top-10 possibility despite a 1.5kg penalty.
Asterix, trained by Chris Waller, was caught up in the fall during the Caulfield Cup and finished 12th. The New Zealand Group One winner carries 55kg and would benefit from rain, but is considered an outsider.
Point Of Law the new Melbourne Cup favourite
Point Of Law has captured attention with his Geelong Cup victory, which came in only his fifth race. The four-year-old, trained by Maher and ridden by Ethan Brown, carries 53kg.
The northern hemisphere three-year-old was reportedly bought by Australian owners for $3.5 million. His lack of experience is a concern, but his latest performance has made him one of the strongest contenders and he is regarded as a top-three chance.
Hopewell Rock is another international runner with credible staying form. Trained by George Boughey, the five-year-old finished second in the Ebor Handicap over 2787m. No horse has won the Melbourne Cup after coming out of the Ebor, although Heartbreak City and Purple Moon both finished runners-up in the race. Hopewell Rock is 24th in the order of entry and is not certain to gain a start.
Onesmoothoperator, a nine-year-old trained by Tim Fitzsimmons, has struggled to reproduce his best form. He won the Geelong Cup before finishing 12th in the 2024 Melbourne Cup, then took the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last year before coming 16th in the Cup. His 11th in this year’s Geelong Cup was another setback.
Soul Of Spain finished second in last year’s Sydney Cup over 3200m but has been disappointing in his past two starts. The Chris Waller-trained gelding was eighth in the Caulfield Cup and needs to improve significantly.
Zahrann is one of the more intriguing runners. He started second favourite for the Caulfield Cup and finished sixth after being affected by the mid-race fall. The five-year-old has yet to race beyond 2400m, but his Irish breeding suggests the 3200m Melbourne Cup distance should suit. He is considered a top-five chance.
So You Are secured his place after winning the Bendigo Cup over 2400m, a fourth consecutive staying victory. Trained by Bjorn Baker and ridden by Rachel King, he has been heavily raced since March but arrives fit and is viewed as another top-five contender.
Future History entered the field after Stinger Glass was scratched, giving Jamie Melham the opportunity to defend the title she won last year. The nine-year-old was caught three-wide in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup and finished ninth, but is not expected to challenge for the top 10.
James J Braddock is the youngest runner in O’Brien’s team and carries only 53.5kg. The lightly raced four-year-old is a Group Three winner, was sourced by Melbourne buyer Ozzie Kheir and will be ridden by Craig Williams. His lack of Australian experience is the main concern, but he is considered a first-four chance.
Kizlyar, also trained by O’Brien, was 11th in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. He appeared set to dictate the race before being restrained and was unable to quicken in the closing stages. A stronger tempo and the step up to 3200m could suit, making him a top-10 possibility.
Strictly Business has struggled since winning last year’s VRC Oaks for trainer Thomas Carberry. She finished last in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup and has found the transition into open company difficult.
Mr Monaco qualified by winning the Bart Cummings over 2500m on a heavy Flemington track. He flopped in this year’s Sydney Cup after starting second favourite, but his chances would improve if rain arrives. The Maher-trained gelding carries 52.5kg.
Zakouma earned his place by winning the Andrew Ramsden Stakes over 2800m in May. His latest run was an 11th in the Crystal Mile, but trainer Grahame Begg has booked in-form jockey William Pike. That recent performance is being treated as little more than a preparatory run.
Shockletz is the lightest-weighted runner in the field at 51kg. The Maher-trained mare won the Archer Stakes at Flemington in September and followed that with a strong second in the Tesio Stakes. She gives Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Harry Coffey another chance to make an impact.
Pinhole, Valiant King and Toranzino are currently outside the top 24 in the order of entry and will need changes to the field to secure a start.
