Ethan Brown wins Melbourne Cup, point of law, how he fought back from horrific fall which almost claimed his life, news, reaction

Ethan Brown achieved what every Australian jockey strives for when he steered home superstar colt Point of Law to a dominant win in the 2026 Melbourne Cup.

The 27-year-old etched his name in the glittering 166-year history of the race that stops the nation, teaming up with good mate and champion trainer Ciaron Maher to win the $10.2 million handicap.

Brown was left “speechless” when speaking to Billy Slater on horseback minutes after crossing the line five lengths ahead of the rest of the field.

“Please don’t wake me up. It’s an amazing feeling,” he said post-race.

“It’s been well documented he (Ciaron Maher) talked me out of horse training and he’s supported me and backed me.

“He (Point of Law) has the best turn of foot in the race by far. I had to stay cool, cut the bend and once he got the clear running, he was too good.

“He’s going to be a superstar.”

FINISHING ORDER: Where every horse placed from first to last

DIVIDENDS: What the winner, trifecta and first 4 paid

PREDICTIONS: Who backed the winner?

Brown’s story is an incredible comeback tale.

He almost lost his life in a race fall at this very track in March 2023.

As he recounted to Channel 9 after guiding Point of Law home, he was “inches from death” when he had an horrific fall from Maximillius in the 2023 Australian Guineas.

He was lucky to survive.

Brown lost over five litres of blood and suffered a lacerated liver, a damaged kidney, three fractured vertebrae and a severed artery.

Brown heavily considered walking away from jockey life to take up training, but was talked out of it by Maher.

With the support of one of the country’s most poweful stables behind him, Brown would be back in the saddle by the end of the year though and since, he’s established himself as one of the leading jockeys in Victoria.

“It was just something burning inside me. I said I was done, it was probably not worth it, I was inches from losing my life and I thought maybe it isn’t worth it,” Brown said.

“But a bit of time off, I realised I wasn’t very good at anything else. But in all honesty there was a slow burn inside of me, and I woke up one day and thought ‘I need to get back riding again’.

“It’s been a bumpy road with a lot of challenges thrown my way.”

Brown’s partner and fellow hoop Celine Gaudray recalls how 13-time Group 1 winning jockey was able to bounce back from the lowest of lows.

“I remember when he wanted to quit racing (after the fall). He was in a bad headspace for a long time and it took him a while to find that love and spark for racing again,” Gaudray told Betsy.

“He wanted to be a racehorse trainer and I was f***ing dreading that so I’m so grateful Ciaron said, ‘you’re not going to be a trainer, you’re going to be a jockey’.

“He switched back on, got his confidence back up and he’s been flying ever since.”