Eddie McGuire reveals heartbreaking family story behind Melbourne Cup celebrationsAn emotional Eddie McGuire has revealed how friends helped bring Kerry Good into a Melbourne Cup ownership syndicate after his daughter Ashlee (pictured) was killed in the Bondi Junction stabbing attack.Ashlee, 38, died following the April 2024 attack at Westfield Bondi Junction, which also left her nine-month-old daughter Harriet injured.Her father, a former North Melbourne footballer, was among those celebrating the Cup triumph, with McGuire revealing the deeply personal significance behind the scenes.’I’m a bit emotional with this. A lot of my friends are in that horse,’ McGuire said.He explained that fellow owner and close friend Rupert Legh had encouraged Good to become involved after his devastating loss.’His great friend Rupert Legh, who’s also in that syndicate, brought him through, said, “No, you’re going to be in this, you’re going to be part of this.”‘For McGuire, seeing Good share the moment with his friends made the celebrations especially moving.’And he was down there. We were all hugging each other.’Good famously kicked the winning goal for North Melbourne against Collingwood in the 1980 night grand final.The moment Ethan Brown rode Point Of Law to glory at the 2026 Melbourne Cup at Flemington‘Maybe it isn’t worth it’: Cup winner Ethan Brown reveals why he almost walked away after almost dying from horror fallEthan Brown has delivered an emotional reflection on his journey from a near-fatal fall to Melbourne Cup glory, admitting he questioned whether racing was worth risking his life.After winning the Cup on Point Of Law, Brown recalled the doubts that followed his horrific 2023 Australian Guineas fall at Flemington.‘I thought, maybe it isn’t worth it,’ he said.The accident left Brown with serious internal injuries and needing multiple operations. His initial return to racing was followed by another break as he struggled with the aftermath.Reflecting on that time away, Brown found room for a self-deprecating joke.‘I had a bit of time off and realised I wasn’t very good at anything else.’But the desire to ride eventually returned.‘In all honesty, there was a slow burn inside me and I woke up one morning and thought, jeez, I need to get back riding.‘And that’s all it took.’That decision has now taken him to the biggest victory of his career.Point Of Law has won the Melbourne Cup!Point Of Law, formerly owned by King Charles, has stormed home to win the 2026 Melbourne Cup with Zahrann and Juja Kibo making up the placings. Just months after leaving the King’s ownership in a deal reportedly worth more than $3million, the Frankel colt rewarded his Australian buyers with a Melbourne Cup triumph.’Please don’t wake me up. It’s an amazing feeling,’ jockey Ethan Brown said post-race.The Ciaron Maher-trained runner overtook Royal Supremacy, who had taken a 20-length lead heading into the final straight. ‘You know I certainly didn’t know that Royal Supremacy would leave by that far. But nothing better than a true stay in test and Point Of Law he’s just thrived,’ Brown said.’The top of the straight. I was within striking distance. And then I looked up and Royal Supremacy was about ten in front. I thought, oh no, I’ve left my run too long here, but I have full confidence in the horse. ‘He’s turned a foot for a stage, second to none, and I just had to rely on that. I seen Royal Supremacy on tired legs and when he quickened the way he did, my confidence grew.’The result meant Maher took the trifecta.’It’s been a whirlwind, really, but I’m very proud of all the team. Like to get three horses in the first three spots. I don’t even know where the rest finished yet, but very proud,’ he said.Co-owner Mike Angie said: ‘A horse bred by a king and queen, trained by a champion, ridden by a brilliant jockey. And owned by a bunch of owners that dare to dream.’Sons And Lovers was fourth.Artificial intelligence predicts the Melbourne Cup winner Three AI platforms picked the same Melbourne Cup winner… and they got it right.Point Of Law has won the Melbourne Cup just as three AI platforms predicted.Before Tuesday’s race, ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude were given The Sunday Mail’s Melbourne Cup Sweep and asked each to pick a winner and predict the top three.Within seconds, all three returned the same tip for first place: No.20, Point Of Law.A $100 win bet on Point Of Law at $7.60 would have returned $760, including the original stake – leaving the punter with a $660 profit.That’s a wrap on our Melbourne Cup coverage for 2026From the thrill of the race to the emotional stories behind the celebrations, Flemington delivered another memorable chapter in Cup history.Thanks for following along with Daily Mail. Whether you backed the winner or tore up your tickets, we hope you enjoyed the afternoon with us.A $100 bet could have returned $5MILLION: The staggering Melbourne Cup payoutsA winning $100 bet on Point Of Law would have made for a pretty good afternoon. Picking the first four in order could have changed your life.Based on the SuperTAB dividends, here’s what each successful $100 wager would have returned, including your original stake.Point Of Law to win: $780, leaving you $680 in profit.Point Of Law to place: $310, a profit of $210.Zahrann to place: $1,100, delivering a $1,000 profit for backing the runner-up.Juja Kibo to place: $440, putting you $340 ahead.Quinella: Finding Point Of Law and Zahrann as the first two home, in either order, would have returned $14,100. That’s $14,000 in profit.Exacta: Getting Point Of Law first and Zahrann second would have paid $23,960, a profit of $23,860.Trifecta: Selecting Point Of Law, Zahrann and Juja Kibo in the correct order would have returned $264,450, leaving a $264,350 profit.First Four: Adding Sons And Lovers in fourth would have produced a staggering $5,027,510 return, or $5,027,410 in profit.Robbie Williams wows the crowd at FlemingtonUK pop superstar Robbie Williams has crushed his pre-race performance for fans at Flemington, delivering a rapid-fire set of his greatest hits including Feel, Angels and Let Me Entertain You.Flower power! Julie Bishop’s Cup look comes with a $12,000 accessoryJulie Bishop has brought a garden’s worth of florals to Flemington, with a matching handbag carrying a price tag that could overshadow a winning bet.Australia’s unofficial ‘Minister for Fashion’ arrived in a voluminous, full-length floral dress, pairing the button-up design with a straw boater hat.But the standout accessory was her floral Lady Dior handbag, worth a reported $12,000.The former foreign minister added more sparkle with diamond drop earrings and two diamond-encrusted rings as she posed for photographs at the Lexus marquee.It’s a bold departure from her more understated looks.Jules Neale makes a statement in red as celebrities descend on FlemingtonJules Neale has claimed her share of the Cup Day spotlight, stepping out in a striking red ensemble after ex-husband Lachie attended Derby Day with his new girlfriend Emma Field.Jules wore a cherry-red By Johnny gown with feather detailing at the hem, teamed with matching opera gloves, a padded headband and pointed heels.A red top-handle bag, diamond tennis bracelets worn over her gloves and a gold ‘J’ necklace completed the look.She had plenty of competition in the fashion stakes, with Pip Edwards embracing turquoise in an oversized crystal-trimmed hat and matching J’Aton Couture gown.Kate Waterhouse opted for a plunging maroon Steven Khalil dress with white gloves, while Jessie Murphy chose an off-the-shoulder cream gown with a lantern skirt.Bright colours the order of the day in Cup fashion‘We just beat the world’: Melham’s emotional reflection on 2025 Cup glory after horror fall nearly ended it allJamie Melham has opened up about the childhood obsession and painful comeback behind her Melbourne Cup triumph, describing her victory aboard Half Yours as the best day of her life.Speaking in a Channel 9 feature, Melham recalled her mother finding her asleep on a Shetland pony after she had disappeared into the paddock.‘I was hooked from a very young age,’ she said.‘All I remember was I just knew whatever I did in life, it’d be with horses.’That passion took her to a nearby racing stable, where trainer John Macmillan spotted her potential on her first day aboard a racehorse.But her journey to Cup glory included a horrific Flemington fall in 2023, with Melham revealing the recovery stretched well beyond getting permission to ride again.‘I don’t remember anything, but I remember being in hospital,’ she said.‘It took a good year for me to feel myself.’Reflecting on last year’s Melbourne Cup win, Melham said the moment that stayed with her was crossing the line and sharing the achievement with Half Yours.‘Just crossing the line and patting the horse and just talking to him like we just did it. We just beat the world.’Now preparing to ride Future History in pursuit of consecutive Cup wins, Melham still struggles to describe what that breakthrough meant.‘I still can’t even get the words out to describe how this day felt.’‘Best day of my life.’Key UpdatesThat’s a wrap on our Melbourne Cup coverage for 2026Eddie McGuire reveals heartbreaking family story behind Melbourne Cup celebrationsA $100 bet could have returned $5MILLION: The staggering Melbourne Cup payoutsThe moment Ethan Brown rode Point Of Law to glory at the 2026 Melbourne Cup at Flemington‘Maybe it isn’t worth it’: Cup winner Ethan Brown reveals why he almost walked away after almost dying from horror fallPoint Of Law has won the Melbourne Cup!Artificial intelligence predicts the Melbourne Cup winner Robbie Williams wows the crowd at FlemingtonFlower power! Julie Bishop’s Cup look comes with a $12,000 accessoryJules Neale makes a statement in red as celebrities descend on FlemingtonBright colours the order of the day in Cup fashion‘We just beat the world’: Melham’s emotional reflection on 2025 Cup glory after horror fall nearly ended it all‘I’ve been in worse places’: Coffey plays down pain after miracle Melbourne Cup surgeryChris Waller fined $50,000 over substance scandal that saw Melbourne Cup hopeful Asterix controversially scratchedMorning showers on the radar as Flemington starts Cup Day on a Soft 5Cup jockey cleared to ride just 48 hours after collarbone surgeryCelebrities roll in – and go big on Cup fashionA new favourite has emerged on Melbourne Cup dayStill searching for a Cup winner? Here’s our guide to every runnerJockey Robbie Dolan believes Knight’s Choice can shock once againBillionaire backs Cup rival with $1million bet despite owning TWO runnersCumani’s $10 tip surges to Melbourne Cup favouritismTOP STORIES