Melbourne Cup jockey Ben Allen has copped a riding ban after holding onto fifth aboard his frontrunning contender Royal Supremacy.
Royal Supremacy led by as much as 20 lengths in what Ciaron Maher, who trained the winner and five of the top six, said provided an unexpected but “true staying test” over the 3200m at Flemington.
Allen told stewards the primary plan had been to ride the horse with cover behind the leader, which he expected to be Kizlyar.
“Allen added, however, when Kizlyar did not muster speed as he expected, rather than restrain his mount he allowed the horse to stride forward and lead,” stewards noted.
Allen noted Royal Supremacy had previously led well at Eagle Farm but “added that he expressed surprise at how far in front he was”.
“Allen further added that Royal Supremacy travelled and relaxed in the lead and whilst tiring over the latter stages, he felt Royal Supremacy ran extremely well,” stewards noted.
Allen himself said leading so far out “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,” he said.
Nevertheless Allen fell foul of strict whip rules, having been found to have used 10 prior to the 100m and 12 in total.
He copped a $5000 fine and has been suspended from 16 meetings.
Allen will be free to race on Oaks Day on Thursday before starting his ban the following day.
Royal Supremacy was mowed down by stablemate Point Of Law, who headed a Maher trifecta — the first for a trainer in the Cup’s 166-year history — featuring Zahrann and Juja Kibo.
Shockletz in sixth rounded out Maher’s five top finshers.
“I knew I had my best hand going into it and I just had to execute,” said Maher, who also won the 2022 Cup with Gold Trip.
“I certainly didn’t know that Royal Supremacy would lead by that far, but there’s nothing better than a true staying test.
“It’s been a whirlwind, really, but I’m very proud of all the team to get three horses in the first three spots.”
The Maher camp was successful on the second attempt at buying Point Of Law from King Charles, who owned and bred the son of Frankel, upping their initial offer after he won the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July.
It was Point Of Law’s second win in only four starts, and his recent Geelong Cup triumph had him installed among the favourites for the race that stops a nation.
Quizzed on the royal links, Maher said the purchase for an undisclosed sum was “a bit like (buying) any other horse” and suggested anything is now possible for the “special” four-year-old.
Point Of Law jockey Ethan Brown’s triumph marked a remarkable fightback after he suffered life-threatening injuries and lost more than five litres of blood in a horror race fall on the same Flemington track three years ago.
The Alice Springs-raised jockey was talked out of turning his hand to training by Maher, who has been one of his greatest supporters.
“He’s done nothing but support me and back me in,” Brown said.
“I’ve buggered up plenty of times on his horses and he’s had nothing but faith.
“He’s one of many people, but he’s believed in me ... I’m quite speechless.”
Early rain on Tuesday didn’t prevent more than 97,112 punters packing Flemington - the biggest crowd since 2016 - and the Cup was run in bright sunshine on a track that was rated a soft 5.
— with AAP
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