In what could be an ominous warning for Australian trainers, the international contingent looks exceptionally strong after the running of the Geelong Cup.
While Ciaron Maher is the trainer of Wednesday’s Group 3 winner Point Of Law, the stayer was prepared for the Geelong Cup (2400m) from quarantine at Werribee after arriving on the first shipment of spring horses from the UK last month.
Success in Wednesday’s race gives Point Of Law a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
Ridden by Ethan Brown, Point Of Law ($6) scored a half-length win from fellow Werribee quarantine interns Small Fry ($5.50) and Omni Man ($15).
Both Small Fry and Omni Man are prepared by dual Melbourne Cup winning trainer Joseph O’Brien with both stayers were chasing a ‘Golden Ticket’ into the Cup.
Geelong Cup | Point Of Law
The international visitors run 1-2-3 in the Geelong Cup! At only his 5th career start, Point Of Law takes out the Group 3 feature! 💪🏻 @cmaherracing
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/HEhdpozFmy https://t.co/BqedLxfl7O— Racing.com (@Racing) October 21, 2026
O’Brien has nine horses among the 57 still in contention for the Melbourne Cup and has Kizlyar chasing a ‘Golden Ticket’ in the Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Point Of Law, who was having just his fifth start on Wednesday, has 51kg in the Cup and is eligible for a rehandicap following the win.
The four-year-old son of Frankel was formerly owned by His Majesty The King before being purchased by clients of Maher with Wednesday’s win finally getting the Geelong Cup monkey off the trainer’s back, including running second with Gilded Water last year, a galloper owned by His Majesty.
“I’ve run second a number of times, including one of my first good horses Moudre,” Maher said.
“It’s great to win, but it’s great to win it with such a progressive horse.
“He’s just a good horse. It was a beautiful ride by Brownie and hopefully he pulls up well, because he looks like he’ll run two-mile.”
Maher said Point Of Law takes a bit of managing, but it was a good experience for the galloper to head to Geelong and win.
“This is a good insight into how he was going to be,” Maher said.
“With each passing day, he’s relaxed a little bit more, he’s got used to the routine. He paraded beautifully, so hopefully he pulls up well.
“He doesn’t look like he’s too stressed there and Brownie looks quite happy there as well.
“He’ll have some decisions to make.”
Brown had not sat on Point Of Law before parading to the gates and felt the stayer was keen in his preliminary.
“From the gate, it couldn’t have worked out any better,” Brown said.
“There was a bit of pressure early where I thought at one stage I was going to take it up, but I didn’t want to wind him up too much knowing that he gets keen.
“I had to be more of a horseman on him and work with him rather than worrying about trying to bang him into a spot and do something quickly.
“I just allowed him to find his rhythm, bring him back outside the leader where he settled really well and although it was a strong gallop, I wasn’t worried about it.
“Ciaron told me the other day he galloped four laps when the rider couldn’t pull him up at Werribee, so I knew he’d sustain a gallop.
“He’s going to go to the Cup as a huge chance from what I felt today.”
