A strong international showing is on the horizon for Australian trainers, following the conclusion of the Geelong Cup.
While Ciaron Maher is the trainer of the Group 3 winner Point Of Law from Wednesday, the stayer was prepared from quarantine at Werribee after arriving from the UK last month as part of the initial spring horse shipment.
Success in Wednesday’s race grants Point Of Law automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
Ridden by Ethan Brown, Point Of Law ($6) achieved a half-length victory over fellow Werribee quarantine participants Small Fry ($5.50) and Omni Man ($15).
Both Small Fry and Omni Man are trained by Joseph O’Brien, a trainer with two Melbourne Cup victories to his name, and both stayers were seeking a ‘Golden Ticket’ into the Cup.
O’Brien currently has nine horses among the 57 remaining contenders for the Melbourne Cup and has Kizlyar chasing a ‘Golden Ticket’ in the Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) at Flemington this Saturday.
Point Of Law, who was having only its fifth start on Wednesday, carries 51kg in the Cup and is eligible for a rehandicap following its win.
The four-year-old son of Frankel was formerly owned by His Majesty The King before being purchased by clients of Maher. This win finally broke the trainer’s duck in the Geelong Cup, having previously finished second with Gilded Water last year, a galloper also owned by His Majesty.
“I’ve run second a number of times, including one of my first good horses Moudre,” Maher stated.
“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 mentioned that Point Of Law requires careful management, but the experience of heading to Geelong and winning was beneficial for the galloper.
“This is a good insight into how he was going to be,” Maher commented.
“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 ridden Point Of Law before parading to the gates and felt the stayer was keen in its 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.”
With Point Of Law’s dominant Geelong Cup performance, anticipation is high for the Melbourne Cup. Compare the latest racing betting markets from various providers.
