The Melbourne Cup has been run and done, with favourite Point of Law taking out the victory.
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Winning jockey Ethan Brown thought the “race was over” at one point, but instead rallied to claim a thrilling Cup.
Here is what all the Melbourne Cup jockeys had to say after Tuesday’s race.
Winning Jockey: Ethan Brown (Point Of Law)
On his time with Ciaron Maher: “I’ll just start with Ciaron. It’s been well documented how he talked me out of horse training at one stage. I was about 22 years old but he’s done nothing but support me and back me in. I’ve buggered up plenty of times on his horses and he has had nothing but faith. He’s believed in me and shown that by putting me on. Quite speechless.”
“He’s nothing but good to me. He’s supported me from when I came back and even before that. I’ve buggered up plenty of times for him and he just keeps fronting up and putting me on and it just shows he’s sort of, how do I explain it, he wants to help me I guess and to be able to win a Melbourne Cup for him, I’ve got to pinch myself, I’m still lost for words.”
On the race: “Looking at the race I thought he has got the best turn of foot in the race by far. I got shuffled back a bit further than I would have liked but I was busy working with him and getting him to settle and I looked up and Royal Supremacy was about 20 in front and I thought oh god. So i had to just stay cool, stay patient, cut the bend and once he got that clear running his turn of foot was enormous. He is going to be a superstar this. He’s something special.”
“When he quickened down at the 350, I thought the race was over then. I know Royal Supremacy was still a fair way in front but there’s not many horses that can quicken like that off the back of the 3200.
MORE MELBOURNE CUP COVERAGE
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DIVIDENDS: What the winner, trifecta and first 4 paid
PREDICTIONS: Who backed the winner?
Maher emotional after making history | 00:31
Difference to Geelong Cup: “He burnt early at Geelong and then we ran along a bit mid-race but somewhat controlled it. And he was still able to quicken off that tempo, and I learned a lot about the horse that day. That’s why I thought he’s got the best turn of foot. If we can just switch him off, save that for one last burst, that’s the result.”
Did you ever dream of this coming down from Alice Springs? “Not back then, no way. I thought I would come to Melbourne and try and ride a few winners. I have had great support throughout my career. It’s been a bumpy road, had a lot of challenges thrown my way, I’m obviously not the only one but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – and it’s days like this that make it all worth it.”
Surreal victory: “Don’t wake me up. I’m lost for words. I mean, where do you start? This is the race that we all try and win. To be in a position at such a young age to do so, I mean, it’s just indescribable.”
Coming back from fall a few years ago: “As they say, I guess, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And there were a lot of speed bumps from that fall to get it to my comeback. It was very hard at times.
“At one stage, I didn’t think I was going to come back, I didn’t think it would be worth it. But I had a slow burn and woke up one morning and thought I needed to get back riding. It’s all led to this moment now, I’ve just got to pinch myself.”
Point of Law storms home to win Melb Cup | 00:34
Beaten Jockeys
Ben Melham (Zahrann, 2nd, 3.75L): “Terrific. Had a good run. Felt like the winner at the top of the straight. Pretty freakish win by the winner.”
Sam Clipperton (Juja Kibo, 3rd, 3.81L): “Couldn’t be more proud of his effort. He’s run out of his skin and for a fleeting moment there I thought We had the race won. The winner just let down really well. Really thankful to Ciaron and the owners. Pleasing result.”
Dylan Browne McMonagle (Sons And Lovers, 4th, 5.06L): “He ran great. Got a nice spot. and we steadied up a bit halfway but came home well.”
Ben Allen (Royal Supremacy, 5th, 5.16L): “(Leading like that) Obviously wasn’t the plan. He’s very tough. I was surprised when I looked back how far off they were as I didn’t think we’d gone that sort of gallop but he was very tough. The way he ran it he ran a strong two-mile. Very game in defeat.”
Harry Coffey (Shockletz, 6th, 5.56L): “She was super. Brave. It was a bit of a stop-start event for the first bit. It was a sprint home which probably didn’t suit her. But she was brave and did a good job.”
Craig Williams (James J Braddock, 7th, 6.06L): “The barrier was a big disadvantage to him today, but he was prepared really well by Joseph and his team to come out here. He is only a three-year-old, lightly raced. You could feel that from the half mile. I had the winner inside of me. Had the third-placed horse in front of me and the fifth-placed horse behind me so I felt like we were in the right spot. For an unusually stop-start run race for the group, He came out and wanted to go left under pressure. He struggled to stay on the back of those main horses and lost ground. Then in the straight he balanced up and closed off really well. He’s a horse with exceptional talent but he just didn’t get it quite right from the barrier today.”
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Rachel King (So You Are, 8th, 6.41L): “Super run. He put himself in a good spot. Very inexperienced horse at the moment and he has plenty more to come and plenty of improvement.”
Zac Lloyd (Hopewell Rock, 9th, 6.66L): “Bit of a non-event. They went ridiculously slow bar the leader and I was just a fraction on the bridle throughout. When they quickened they left him flatfooted but I thought he went well up the straight.”
Mark Zahra (Middle Earth, 10th, 7.41L): “He was a bit keen in parts. He was travelling ok in the straight but the winner just going a lot better and took my runs. He whacked away alright in the end.”
James McDonald (Trustyourinstinct, 11th, 7.71L): “He was solid. In a very slowly run race, he is a little bit one dimensional and we have to flow back. He was going to be there but we just couldn’t get into the race at all.”
Robbie Dolan (Knight’s Choice, 12th, 8.01L): “Very proud of him. Amazing little horse. Just getting him back here for the Melbourne Cup after a long time of injuries and sicknesses is amazing. He ran a cracker with five-kilos on some of those horses. Really proud of him.”
Tommy Berry (Soul Of Spain, 13th, 9.01L): “Began well. Found a nice spot early but he was just a bit too honest in the run and he felt the pinch late. Very honest in defeat.”
William Pike (Zakouma, 14th, 10.51L): “It was a good sound effort. They just didn’t go any gallop. It was a very steady run race.”
Ray Dawson (Enfjaar, 15th, 13.26L): “Happy early to the first bend. They went way too slow for us and we struggled to get into it.”
Beau Mertens (Kizlyar, 16th, 14.26L): “I thought he did a good job. We had to do the tow up work behind the tearaway leader but I was trying to build on him and I thought he stayed on strong racing wide.”
Jabez Johnstone (Mr Monaco, 17th, 14.41L): “Wouldn’t be disappointed with that at all. He’s run a nice race. Strongly believe didn’t run two mile.”
Dean Yendall (Strictly Business, 18th, 16.91L): “Couldn’t really switch her off. Probably needed a parking inspector out there to throw a few tickets out. Just went too steady. She never relaxed and the job was done probably at the 1000 (metre mark) when she was on the bridle and had the winner’s back but didn’t come on.”
Damian Lane (Wine Dark Sea, 19th, 19.66L): “I thought he was a little bit keen and wanted to lug out. Just can’t get it wrong in these races, unfortunately. Little bit immature mentally for these big occasions. Nice horse for the future but just needs to iron out a few quirks.”
Jamie Melham (Future History, 20th, 20.91L): “He tried hard. At the 600 (metre mark) I thought he was a sneaky hope. He just doesn’t run the trip out at this level but back to 2000m/2500m is his go.”
Declan Bates (Onesmoothoperator, 21st, 23.41L): “We were obviously back. We never really ran into the rafe at all so a bit disappointing.”
Wayne Lordan (Goodie Two Shoes, 22nd, 25.66L): “Got a nice position. When they quickened in the straight he leveled out and stayed on.”
Jordan Childs (Vauban, last, 30.16L): “He had a nice run in transit. Had to use him a little from the gate. He got into a rhythm and just got really tired late. Second-up 3200 probably didn’t work.”
This article first appeared on punters.com.auand was reproduced with permission.