The leading contender for the 2026 Melbourne Cup, Point Of Law, has seen his chances bolstered by a favourable barrier draw for the Flemington feature.
At only his sixth start, the $6 favourite will jump from barrier nine in the 166th edition of Australia’s premier race. Trainer Ciaron Maher views this as a more than adequate starting position for the four-year-old.
“Barrier nine is ideal,” Maher expressed, with a minor acknowledgement of the galloper’s limited race experience, though this is less of a concern than when he arrived in Australia in September.
“I thought he needed a decent enough draw and that barrier, he needs to get the first half of the race right (but) I’m rapt with him and I think he’s thriving.”
The winner of the Group 2 Geelong Cup (2400m) must overcome the statistics to become the 47th horse of his age to win the 3200-metre contest.
Maher is set to saddle a record seven runners in the 2026 Melbourne Cup, including 2025 third-place finisher Middle Earth from barrier one, Juja Kibo (winner of the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup over 2500m) in gate 14, and Shockletz in barrier 17.
“Barrier one didn’t hurt Tempted the other day,” he added, referencing the sprinter’s notable victory over Ka Ying Rising.
“The owners were saying that barrier one might be ideal and I said I’d rather be there than in 24.
“He is ready to run the race of his career and he has had a similar prep to last year. He loves Flemington and has the engine for two mile though I think the handicapper got him a bit with his performance last year with 56.5-kilos.
“He’s a two- miler and there’s probably only half the field that will be.”
Maher considered $23 chance Zahrann, drawn in barrier 11, as a potential overlooked contender, and rated $11 chance Shockletz as one of his top hopes from barrier 17.
Harry Coffey’s ride on Pondalowie in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), won by Lady Shenandoah, resulted in the jockey requiring scans for a suspected collarbone injury, casting doubt on his participation.
Irish raider James J Braddock, whose Melbourne Cup odds are now $13, drew the widest gate in barrier 24.
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