Point of Law has won the 2026 Geelong Cup, earning a place in next month's Melbourne Cup. The three-year-old colt, favourite for the race, led for much of the 2400-metre contest at Geelong Racecourse on Wednesday. The horse was sold to Australian owners in August after being bred and raced by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Trainer Ciaron Maher claimed his first Geelong Cup win, while jockey Ethan Brown said the horse settled well despite being keen. The race carries $500,000 in prizemoney, with $300,000 going to the winner.
Point of Law, a British three-year-old stallion, won the $500,000 Geelong Cup at Geelong Racecourse on Cup day. The horse was ridden by Ethan Brown and trained by Ciaron Maher. The win gives the horse a golden ticket for direct entry to the Melbourne Cup if its connections accept. Small Fry finished second and Omni Man third. Last year's winner, Onesmoothoperator, finished 11th. Temperatures in the low to mid-20s greeted thousands of racegoers, a sharp contrast to last year's washed-out meeting.
One of the strongest fields in Geelong Cup history is set to contest Wednesday's feature, with a Melbourne Cup golden ticket adding significance. Geelong Racing Club chief executive Luke Rayner says the quality of acceptances is among the best he can remember. He estimates 10 horses among the acceptances sit between 31st and 56th in the Melbourne Cup order of entry. Gates open at 11am, with a crowd expected and more than 5,000 corporate hospitality tickets already sold. Free shuttle buses will run from the Geelong Bus Interchange and South Geelong Station.
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Geelong Racecourse track manager Jimmy Dalton is putting the finishing touches on the racing surface ahead of the Geelong Cup on Wednesday, 21 October. Dalton said the preparation is the result of a 12-month program covering mowing, aeration, nutrient management and weed control. In the final days, he and his team monitor the track around the clock, watching for rain or sprinkler faults. Dalton said the aim is a good, fair surface with even grass cover to keep horses safe. The Cup winner will earn a spot in the Melbourne Cup, held next month.
