Point of Law, a horse previously owned by King Charles, won the 166th Melbourne Cup in a thrilling finish. The three-year-old colt, ridden by Australian jockey Ethan Brown, overcame Royal Supremacy in the final 100 metres to win the prestigious A$10.2m race. Ciaron Maher became the first trainer to saddle the top three finishers, with Zahrann and Juja Kibo completing the podium.
Brown, who survived a near-fatal fall in 2023, described the win as 'every jockey's dream'. The King sold Point of Law to investors including former AFL player Chris Judd earlier this year. The race, held at Flemington since 1861, is known as the 'race that stops a nation'.
Controversy surrounded the scratching of Asterix after a stable worker administered prohibited medication. Trainer Chris Waller was fined A$50,000 for the breach. Despite declining interest, with only 9% of Australians showing high interest, the event remains a cultural icon, drawing record bets and protests against horse racing.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing