Lexus Melbourne Cup day 2026: Racing highlights and results

Ciaron Maher lands trifecta in Melbourne Cup 

Trainer Ciaron Maher has made history becoming the first trainer to provide the trifecta in the Melbourne Cup. 

Maher saddled seven runners in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday with Point Of Law leading the way home. 

Sent out the $7 favourite under Ethan Brown, Point Of Law scored by a widening 3-¾ lengths from Zahraan ($26) with Juja Kibo ($14) a short-head away third. 

Tearaway leader Royal Supremacy (5$1) held on bravely to finish fifth after leading by a conservative 15 lengths at the 800m mark with Shockletz ($10) ran sixth. Middle Earth ($17) finished tenth while Mr Monaco ($26) was the worst performed of the Maher team winding up in 17th position. 

The trifecta returned a dividend of $2644.50 for a $1 dividend. 

Maher’s racing manager Will Bourne secured Point Of Law from His Majesty The King for Australian clients and was prepared for the Melbourne Cup in quarantine at Werribee. 

Point Of Law was having just his sixth race start and won his way into the Melbourne Cup winning a ‘Golden Ticket’ in the Geelong Cup (2400m) at his Australian debut on October 21. 

Maher, who won the Cup in 2022 with Gold Trip when in a training partnership with David Eustace, knew he had a strong hand in Tuesday’s race. 

“We just had to execute,” Maher said. 

“I certainly didn’t know that Royal Supremacy would go and lead by that far but nothing better than a true staying test,” Maher said. 

“Point Of Law has just thrived and I can’t thank all the team enough, all the owners, what a ride they have been on. 

“It's been a whirlwind really.” 

Tuesday’s victory continued Maher’s remarkable success this season. 

Maher sits atop of the Australian premiership table and along with the Melbourne Cup, he also won last months The Everest with Tempted and Tuesday’s success has pushed the trainer past the $30 million mark already this season.

Amelia’s Affair too speedy on debut 

After a frustrating first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Annabel and Rob Archibald stable drew first blood on Melbourne Cup when Amelia’s Affair outsped her rivals to win the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m). 

The Archibald team had a couple of second placings on Victoria Derby Day and went into the Maribyrnong Plate confident Amelia’s Affair had the ability to be a contender. 

Jumping straight to the lead, Amelia’s Affair led home Royal Press by 2-¾ lengths with La La Lily a further 1-¾ lengths away third. 

“We didn’t necessarily want to lead but they’re first starters as they’re all two-year-olds and you’d like to have a bunny to follow first time down the straight,” Annabel Archibald said. 

“I was just relieved when she dropped the bit in front. I love the way he just managed to get a few cheap sectionals, and she just skipped away from them, it looked like she did it with her ears pricked. 

“I think the world's probably her oyster because there's a lot more improvement to come, as that was off just one trial.” 

Archibald said the Magic Millions Carnival on the Gold Coast, or a longer rest before embarking on an autumn campaign would come under consideration for connections. 

“There's obviously a lot of big two-year-old races, one big two-year-old race in March that we'd love to win as well,” Archibald said. 

“But we'll just see how she comes through this. She only travelled down two days ago, so she'll go straight back home, and we'll assess her from there.” 

Gai gets on the board at Carnival 

Lightly raced Yauson produced an impressive effort to claim the Pin & Win Community Handicap (2000m). 

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper had been promising to produce a performance similar to that which saw him race to a comfortable victory under Jordan Childs. 

After enjoying a good run in transit, Yauson raced clear in the last 200m to score by 2-¾ lengths over the leader Mr O’Reilly with Military Academy a close third. 

Bott said it would be tempting to aim up at something with some ‘Black Type’ and is confident the gelding will reach those heights in time. 

“He's been very progressive for us, we've enjoyed taking him through his grades and it's been remarkable to see the continued improvement from him,” Bott said. 

“He looked terrific today and the way he's won, the way he's pulled away late, there's still a lot of upside to come with a horse like him. 

“We’ll sit down and get the week over with and see what's left for him, or what the bigger picture might look like in the next 12 months.” 

Taige Weir registers maiden city win 

Taige Weir could not have picked a better time or place to land her maiden city win. 

Billycart was Weir’s first runner at Flemington and provided the daughter of Darren Weir with the biggest win of her fledging career in the Listed One Pool Trophy (1800m). 

Weir had prepared 15 winners from less that 100 runners before Billycart’s victory on Melbourne Cup Day. 

The win kept Billycart’s record intact having scored on debut at Kilmore earlier in the month. 

After runner-up Mister Whiskers raced to the lead inside the 300m mark, Billcart unleashed a powerful finish to run past Mister Whiskers and score by 2-¾ lengths with Star Of Macedon a further 1-¼ lengths away third. 

“That is amazing,” Weir said. 

“I knew she has a bit of ability, but to do it today, I thought the experience might get the better of her. 

There are a lot of people here today, but to her credit, she just let rip and yeah, that's the horse we know and I'm so glad that she could get the job done today.” 

Peyton in right place on Cup Day 

The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton stable had originally considered a race down the straight at Flemington on Cox Plate Day for Peyton. 

But after the colt did not travel down to Melbourne from his home at Randwick all that well and required time to settle in, the decision was made to switch Peyton to The Schweppervesence Plate (1000m) on Tuesday instead. 

It proved a winning formula as Peyton ran down early leader Fovea to score by a head with Strike Package running on strongly to finish third, a further neck away. 

Chalton said it was on the recommendation of O’Shea that Peyton have a jump-out at Flemington last week to prepare for Tuesday’s race. 

“He was probably only just travelling throughout,” Charlton said. 

“We knew the trip was on the shorter side for him. We were intending on running on Cox Plate Day but this was the best alternative. 

“But he's a talented horse for great people and full credit to the boss, John, who decided to give him a jump out on Friday. 

“He just felt he needed a bit of stimulation through the week, so that was a big call and he's been rewarded.” 

Charlton said Peyton could find himself on the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions Summer Carnival. 

“We'll just have to think, but there was an idea potentially, we haven't flagged it with the owners, but the race called the Sunlight up at the Magic Millions,” Charlton said. 

“But there'll be plenty of options, obviously in the autumn, or the immediate future.”

Irish eyes smiling in Australian Heritage Cup 

It is often referred to as the ‘other staying’ race on Melbourne Cup Day and for former Irish jumps jockey turned trainer Shane Jackson he was just happy to have a winner on the day. 

Jackson prepared Beach Pad to take out the Australian Heritage Cup (2800m) having also saddled Newfoundland in the contest. 

The Australian Heritage Cup is restricted to trainers based in Australia or New Zealand. 

“The rules say that you have to train in Australia, you don't have to be an Australian trainer, so I found a loophole there, which is great.,” Jackson said. 

Jackson said Beach Pad had been racing consistently but not suited by a hot speed at Caulfield last time on the tighter track. 

“Back to Flemington, big, long straight and a beautiful ride from Willie Pike,” Jackson said. 

“A bit of sting out of the track, that's probably his perfect ground so he's a bit like Goldilocks this fella everything has to go right, and it went right today, thank god.” 

Jackson said he would have a think about the upcoming program for Beach Pad or to whether give the gelding a break. 

“Every start I've been thinking it might be his last one, but he's just a phenomenal little horse,” Jackson said. 

“He swaps between stables, Warrnambool and Flemington and that seems to keep him sweet. 

“We won't make any decisions today, but he's definitely done his job today.” 

Zahra gets Sabaj back into the winner’s stall 

Sabaj reaffirmed his love affair with Melbourne Cup Week with a popular win in the Listed Asahi Super Dry Plate. 

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained gelding logged his first win for the year when he got home as $2.60 favourite in the 1800m event. 

The son of Manhattan Rain was scratched from a Melbourne Cup Day support race last year to be saved for a race on Champions Day, which he won with Mark Zahra aboard, and the two-time Melbourne Cup winner was back on for the first time since. 

“It took me a year to get back on him, they drive a hard bargain there at Price Kent (Racing),” Zahra said with a laugh. 

“He’s a beautiful horse, obviously he's been running in very good races, got back to his grade, or to a drop in grade today, he had every chance, and he was strong in the end.” 

The five-year-old scored his first win since last year’s Cranbourne Cup, which he won the start after his Flemington victory. 

Tuesday’s win followed unplaced efforts in the Memsie Stakes (1400m), Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and Toorak Handicap (1600m) all at Group 1 level and Kent Jnr said Zahra’s ride, when he squeezed through a tight gap in the straight, was a key part of the win. 

Sabaj is among entries for this Saturday’s Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) and Kent Jnr said a decision on a start would be made tomorrow morning while a trip to Perth, where the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m), are also options. 

Ranarsson makes Hayes boys sweat 

Ben Hayes was confident Ranarsson could win the Listed Amanda Elliot (1400m) from near on the moment the final field was released. 

However, the three-year-old colt won by a smaller margin than he had envisaged, but nevertheless he and brothers Will and JD were happy just the same. 

“He got a bit worked up today, big day, third ever start,” Ben Hayes said. 

“He did get a little bit warmer than normal. I was a little bit worried, but he got the job done.” 

The Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) on Saturday week is a possibility for the son of hot sire Ole Kirk. 

“He added another string to his bow and took a sit today,” Hayes added.  

“He relaxed. He peeled out and probably didn’t have the best run in transit, but he was still able to win which is the sign of a very good horse.” 

Ridden by Ben Melham, Ranarsson edged out Barracks with Ethan Brown aboard by a short-neck margin. 

Shadhavar presses Orr claims at Flemington 

Shadhavar might have raced her way into the final Group 1 of the Spring Carnival after making the perfect Flemington debut in the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m). 

The Tom Dabernig-trained daughter of Pride Of Dubai proved far too speedy for her rivals, streaking away in the home straight to score a 4-1/4-length win over Tomato Toastie with Craig Williams in the saddle. 

It was the first trip to Flemington in her 19-start career and the second-straight win at 1400m after victory at Caulfield on Cup Day. 

While the Orr Stakes has previously been run over the same course and distance but this year the race returns to its original home at Sandown on Saturday week. 

“I must admit we'd handwritten it in the calendar, and we hadn't talked about it a lot before today,” Dabernig said. 

“We were just going to see how she performed.” 

Never a surer bet: Pike in the last 

It doesn’t just happen in Perth. It happens here, too. 

Willie Pike saluted in the final event of the day, the Channel 9 Trophy (1400m), to cap a crowning day for Ciaron Maher as he steered Fundamental Nature to victory. 

From near last on the home turn to rundown the Danny O’Brien-trained Jett Smash in the final few bounds, Maher and Pike both notched doubles on the Melbourne Cup Day card. 

“Pikey in the last,” Maher proclaimed.  

“That's what worked out for us. I said to the owners and Pikey, I said we’ve normally had a few under the belt and watching him over there in the west and he comes storming home late. 

“It's been busy since the Cup and I'm sure it's going to get busier.”