Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Point Of Law outstays them in the Geelong Cup
It was European form to the fore in the G3 Geelong Cup, with the lightly raced Point Of Law (GB) (Frankel {GB}) producing a strong staying performance under Ethan Brown to win at just his fifth career start and secure a ‘Golden Ticket’ into the G1 Melbourne Cup.
Now in the care of Ciaron Maher, the exciting Frankel (GB) 4-year-old showed his staying credentials to defeat the Joseph O’Brien-trained duo of Small Fry (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) and Omni Man (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), both of whom were making their Australian debuts.
The tempo was strong from the outset, with favourite The Euphrates (GB) (Frankel {GB}) kicking up along the inside to hold the lead under Blake Shinn. Brown, meanwhile, was keen to challenge for the front aboard Point Of Law, who had jumped quickly from a wide barrier.
Point Of Law raced a little freely as the pair established a lead of around four lengths over Small Fry, with Kerrin McEvoy settling the latter into a distant trailing position.
Brown eventually eased Point Of Law behind The Euphrates, allowing his mount to drop the bit and travel more comfortably. The tempo remained strong, however, turning the race into a genuine staying test.
When The Euphrates dropped out at around the 300-metre mark, Point Of Law surged to the lead but appeared vulnerable late. Small Fry gave chase and closed to within half a length at the finish, while Omni Man ran on strongly for third, two lengths behind the winner.
Point Of Law (GB) winning the G3 Geelong Cup | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Maher was delighted to win the race, having previously finished runner-up on several occasions, including with one of his early top performers, Moudre (Blevic).
"I've run second a number of times, including one of my first good horses Moudre," Maher said.
"It's great to win, but it's great to win it with such a progressive horse.
"It's great to win, but it's great to win it with such a progressive horse." - Ciaron Maher
"He's just a good horse. It was a beautiful ride by Brownie and hopefully he pulls up well, because he looks like he'll run two-miles."
Maher said Point Of Law required careful management, but the experience of heading to Geelong and winning the Cup had provided valuable insight into the gelding's temperament and ability.
"This is a good insight into how he was going to be," Maher said.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"With each passing day, he's relaxed a little bit more, he's got used to the routine. He paraded beautifully, so hopefully he pulls up well.
"He doesn't look like he's too stressed there and Brownie looks quite happy there as well.
"He'll have some decisions to make."
Brown had not ridden Point Of Law before and he felt his mount was keen during his preliminary. However, he was pleased with how the race unfolded.
"From the gate, it couldn't have worked out any better," Brown said.
"There was a bit of pressure early where I thought at one stage I was going to take it up, but I didn't want to wind him up too much knowing that he gets keen.
"I had to be more of a horseman on him and work with him rather than worrying about trying to bang him into a spot and do something quickly.
"I just allowed him to find his rhythm, bring him back outside the leader where he settled really well and although it was a strong gallop, I wasn't worried about it.
"Ciaron told me the other day he galloped four laps when the rider couldn't pull him up at Werribee, so I knew he'd sustain a gallop.
"He's going to go to the Cup as a huge chance from what I felt today."
"He's (Point Of Law) going to go to the Cup as a huge chance from what I felt today." - Ethan Brown
Sales info: Point of Law was bred by King Charles III and raced previously for John and Thady Gosden in the Royal Colours before his private sale to Ciaron Maher Racing.
Pedigree info: Point Of Law is out of the two-time winning Deep Impact (Jpn) mare Portfolio (Jpn) who was also placed at Listed level. There is plenty of top class international blood within the family with Point Of Law’s grandam Diploma (GB) being a Listed winner by Dubawi (Ire) and his great grandam Enticement (GB) being a dual Listed winner by Montjeu (Ire).
Murshidi stays tough in Geelong Classic
The Ciaron Maher-trained 3-year-old Murshidi (Maurice {Jpn}) proved the toughest of the field over 2200 metres in Wednesday's Listed Geelong Classic, with an impressive staying effort under the in-form Blake Shinn.
The determined victory offered an encouraging indication that the additional furlong and a half of the G1 Victoria Derby should pose no hindrance to the gelding, who broke his maiden in style in the Listed event.
There was some early speed, with the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained roughie Hakusan (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) leading before Icy You (Pinatubo {Ire}) worked across from a wide draw to settle outside the pace-making stablemate.
Meanwhile, Damian Lane secured an ideal one-one position aboard favourite True Tone (Dundeel {NZ}), with Shinn and Murshidi following Lane's every move.
The tempo eased through the middle stages, turning the contest into a muddling affair. At around the 800-metre mark, Jye McNeil aboard Crimsonor (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) decided to lift the pace, sweeping forward three wide to inject some speed into the race.
That move suited True Tone and Murshidi, who made their runs upon straightening and looked likely to challenge as Crimsonor couldn't sustain the run. Icy You, closer to the rail, continued to kick strongly, setting up a three-way battle to the finish.
Murshidi winning the Listed Geelong Classic | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Murshidi proved just a touch too tough, scoring by a neck over Icy You, who fought on bravely, while True Tone also battled strongly to finish third, beaten only a length.
“Probably the best stayer on the day won and he’s trained by Ciaron which helps,” said Blake Shinn.
“He had a good run and presented nicely and when the chips were down and he had to show a bit of intestinal fortitude, he did, so it was a good effort to win.
“Last year I rode Arcora in this race and he was a little bit unlucky and then went on to run second in the Derby and this horse has won today. I think he’ll run the trip and he has some talent so he’s worthy of taking there and he will run well.”
Winning trainer Ciaron Maher was pleased to see the gelding break his maiden in such convincing fashion, with the G1 Victoria Derby now firmly on the agenda.
“That was this horse’s maiden win so a nice way to do it. The $3 million Derby looks like a nice target to have next start.
“The team at Ballarat, they are thriving. They keep pulling them out, these stayers. Blake looked in control a long way from home. Beautiful ride by him.”
Sales info: Murshidi was passed in short of his $250,000 reserve at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is raced by Ciaron Maher Racing and Mr M J Regan.
Pedigree info: Murshidi is the first foal out of the Lonhro mare Daleelaty who was a winner over 1400 metres. His grandam Reemah (Redoute’s Choice) was a winner over 1200 metres and was placed in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes, and his great grandam Vormista (Testa Rossa) was a Group 2 winner and multiple times Group 1-placed.
Daleelaty in recent times has left a 2-year-old colt by Maurice (Jpn) and a yearling colt by Toronado (Ire).
Zahav too quick at Warwick Farm
When progeny of Ghaiyyath (Ire) show ability over shorter distances as 3-year-olds, it can be an encouraging sign for their future. That looks to be the case with Ciaron Maher-trained, Australian Bloodstock-owned Zahav (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), who recorded a comfortable maiden victory over 1300 metres at Warwick Farm at just his second career start.
Braith Nock jumped the gelding quickly and took up the running, with favourite Social Graces (Wootton Bassett {GB}) working across from an outside barrier to settle alongside the leader.
The Home Affairs filly Belle Chanteuse secured a favourable one-one position, while Explosive Express (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) was caught three wide just behind the pace and forced to work hard.
There appeared to be a genuine tempo throughout, with Tim Clark aboard Social Graces ensuring Zahav was not allowed to get too far in front. However, Zahav continued to kick strongly and ultimately scored by just over two and a half lengths from Social Graces, with Belle Chanteuse battling into third, four and a half lengths behind the winner.
Zahav was dominant in the finish, producing an impressive performance that suggested there is plenty more to come.
“Good win.” said stable rep Johann Gerard-Dubord. “It's been a good week for Australian bloodstock.
“He's a lovely horse, he's taking a bit of time, but since we put the blinkers on him and just let him roll forward, we've seen a big improvement. He's always been showing a bit at home.
“He's (Zahav) a lovely horse, he's taking a bit of time. He's always been showing a bit at home.” - Johann Gerard-Dubord
“He did have a bit of work to do early but he had a fairly easy time from a 600 and he gave a good kick.
“He would get a bit of ground. Most of the Ghaiyyath do and the experience from that run first up. But yeah, I thought it was a very good first up. It was probably the right race.
"Obviously, it's a good prize money race, but small field, he was in the strongest field. But yeah, I think there's a lot more to come. He's still very immature and physically and mentally there's plenty more to come, but it's a nice way to break the maiden.”
Johann Gerard-Dubord | Image courtesy of Ciaron Maher Racing
Sales info: Zahav was purchased by Australian Bloodstock for only $30,000 from the Murrulla Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2.
Pedigree info: Zahav is the first foal out of the winning Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Testimonial who was also placed at Listed level. Testimonial has a very strong page being a blood-sister to Shadow (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), the dam of the Group 1 winner Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) and the G3 Canonbury Stakes winner Hidrix (Extreme Choice).
Also in the family is the flying sprinting mare Virage De Fortune (Anabaa {USA}) who was successful at Group 1 level twice.
Testimonial in recent times has produced a 2-year-old filly by So You Think (NZ), a yearling colt by Home Affairs and foaled a colt by the same stallion earlier this month.
Aurora Belle brilliant and unbeaten
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained 4-year-old Aurora Belle (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) maintained her unbeaten record at Geelong, producing another impressive performance under Ethan Brown to further enhance her reputation.
It was a dominant display from start to finish, with Brown sending her straight to the lead and setting a decent tempo. Delivering (Justify {USA}) settled in second, while Lario (Epaulette) tracked the leaders from the trail.
Little changed throughout the race, with Brown increasing the pressure on the turn as most of his rivals came off the bit. Aurora Belle responded impressively, cruising clear to win by just under three lengths from Delivering, who battled on well, while Mister Whisper (D’Argento) ran on strongly for third, just behind the runner-up.
All honours belonged to the mare, who appears to have plenty more to offer and looks capable of stepping up in grade with confidence.
Moments after the victory, Aurora Belle's co-trainer JD Hayes was informed that the win marked the 1000th training success of his career, making the occasion even more memorable.
“That was my 1000th winner, so I won’t forget that race,” Hayes said.
“That was my 1000th winner, so I won’t forget that race.” - JD Hayes
“It was an Impressive win. The way that she did it, she has a very high cruising speed, terrific gate speed, and really didn’t give much hope (to the others) the way that she just won with the ears pricked on the line.
“She’s very raw so we’ll see how she pulls up and let the races come to us. She’s got a nice low benchmark but we’ll have a chat to the team at Punt Road Syndications if we want to throw her in the deep end, but it is just nice to have a horse of this quality in these colours.”
JD Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Winning jockey Ethan Brown was impressed with the performance but acknowledged that Aurora Belle was still learning her craft and had more to work out.
“She travelled quite strong then. Thought up to the 1300 and travelling strong, I thought she might have overdone it a bit and been vulnerable late but her class got her through," Brown said.
“She is a very nice horse and she is still working it out a bit. She was a lot more forward than she was the other day so she tells me she’s taken improvement but she was still quite fresh in the run.
“She’s still working it out. Lightly raced and only her second start in Australia. She did wait for me. She travelled strong and hit that flat spot late. When I asked, she did lengthen, to her credit. Not all of them do that after travelling that strong.
“It was a good win and she’s certainly one to follow. She’s going to be better again next prep. She is still working it out.”
“It was a good win and she’s (Aurora Belle) certainly one to follow. She’s going to be better again next prep. She is still working it out.” - Ethan Brown
Sales info: Aurora Belle was bred by The Bohemian Trust and was purchased and now owned by clients of The Hayes stable after winning her first two starts at Te Rapa impressively in New Zealand as a 3-year-old.
Pedigree info: Aurora Belle is one of two winners out of the three-time winner Nina Arora (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}) who won at the mile distance and over 2100 metres.
There is not a lot of black-type within the pedigree but one that did win at Group 3 level within the family is Jolly Rodger (NZ) (Yachtie).
Nina Arora in recent times has left a 2-year-old filly by Ribchester (Ire) and a yearling by King Of Comedy (Ire) before being given the breeding season off last year.
