Maher Holds Seven-Strong Hand for Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup (G1) chance for the Ciaron Maher-trained Point of Law (GB) looks to have been given a boost after he drew barrier 9 for the Nov. 3 AU$10 million feature. In what will be just his sixth career start, the 4-year-old British import will be bidding to follow up a Geelong Cup (G3) success on his Australian debut. "Barrier 9 is ideal," Maher said. "I thought he needed a decent enough draw and that barrier, he needs to get the first half of the race right (but) I'm rapt with him and I think he's thriving." Maher will saddle up a record seven runners with 2025 third-placegetter Middle Earth (GB) drawing barrier 1, Moonee Valley Cup (G2) winner Juja Kibo (IRE) in 14, and of the other notables, Shockletz (NZ) in barrier 17. "Barrier 1 didn't hurt Tempted the other day," Maher said of Middle Earth. "The owners were saying that barrier 1 might be ideal and I said I'd rather be there than in 24. He is ready to run the race of his career and he has had a similar prep to last year. He loves Flemington and has the engine for 2 miles, though I think the handicapper got him a bit with his performance last year with 56.5 kilos. "He's a 2-miler and there's probably only half the field that will be." Harry Coffey looks unlikely to take the ride on Shockletz after being taken to hospital for scans for a suspected collarbone injury following his fall from Pondalowie in the Empire Rose Stakes (G2) won by Lady Shenandoah (AUS). O'Brien's Defiantly ruled out of Cup bid Joseph O'Brien's one-time Melbourne Cup favorite Defiantly (FR) has been ruled out of contesting the race by Racing Victoria veterinarians. A panel of RV vets inspected Defiantly, Wine Dark Sea (GB), and Enfjaar (IRE) the morning of Oct. 31 after those three horses were deemed unsuitable to accept for the Melbourne Cup following an examination Oct. 29. While Wine Dark Sea and Enfjaar were given the all-clear, Defiantly did not pass and remains unsuitable to accept with RV stewards ordering the stayers withdrawal from the Melbourne Cup on veterinary advice. Despite the withdrawal of Defiantly, O'Brien still has five entries in the Melbourne Cup, including Kizlyar (IRE) who was able to draw into the field with Defiantly's absence. O'Brien, who has already won the Melbourne Cup twice with Twilight Payment (IRE) in 2020 and Rekindling (GB) in 2018, will be represented by Sons And Lovers (GB) (post 3), Trustyourinstinct (IRE) (18), Goodie Two Shoes (IRE) (19), and James J Braddock (GB) (24). Kizlyar will break from post 20. So You Are Makes Cup for Baker Recent Bendigo Cup (G3) winner So You Are (AUS) made the final 24-runner field for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup after Saint George (GB) was withdrawn Thursday. The Bjorn Baker-trained So You Are received a 1-kilogram penalty for his Oct. 28 Bendigo success, following another 1-kilogram total addition for his wins in the Colin Stephen Quality (G3) and ATC St Leger Stakes (G3), so now sits at 54 kilograms. So You Are's owner/breeder Stuart Ramsey was very emotional with the news, telling Racing.com: "I can't believe it. You breed and race horses all your life, hoping to get a runner in the Melbourne Cup. It's a dream come true."